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Wednesday, July 6, 2005

"Seeing the Unseen"

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

About ten years ago SIRDS were very popular. These are those images that appear to make no sense at all until you focus your vision a certain way. Then a powerful image just seems to pop out of the picture.

A lady in our church knew that I enjoyed these and gave us one. We hung it in on a wall in the overflow area in our church but I have to admit in this instance I never did see the image. However hard I tried and even though people would try to show me how to squint or look at it at a certain angle I just couldn't see it. After someone would go to great lengths to help me find the missing picture they'd say, "Don't you see it now?" I actually felt rather foolish and pressured to say "O yea, now I see it."  But I never did.

It seems to me that the spiritual realm is in some respects like a SIRDS. As we look about we see the temporal realm. Now in many ways it's beautiful since we are looking at God's design, unlike the initial random meaningless image in a SIRDS.

But like a SIRDS there's more to reality that we do not initially see and that is what the apostle Paul calls the "unseen" in the daily Scripture verse. Now I believe that by grace we can all see this realm, but it does require an intentional fixing of our eyes on this unseen realm. This is the essence of faith. One version states we "consider and look." The underlying Greek word is where we get the word "scope".

This illustrates a great spiritual principle.  I am especially aware of readers who are going through difficult times as they read this.  The immediately preceding verse declares, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17). 

May God's Word bring assurance and confident faith, particularly in these enduring trials.  As we go through the troubles of life it's important to remember where we should "fix our eyes" and the temporariness of the seen.

But there's another danger that the text addresses.  Not only do we need the awareness of the temporariness of what is seen when going through the hard times but also when we're going through the good times.  My, have we been blessed!  Moses warned the Israelites that when you prosper, don't forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:10ff). 

Remember the present seen is all temporary.  Let us fix our eyes on the unseen, which is eternal.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's Prayer:  In the maze of life's events where we're often a passenger on the rollercoaster of life's ups and downs, may we never lose sight of You, Jesus.  You are the unseen but ever-present Shepherd who protects, guides and tenderly comforts us in all our trouble. Thank You, Lord, that when change is constantly about us, You remain steadfast, faithful, and dependable.  You are the Anchor that keeps us grounded in the unseen but eternal truths we build our lives upon.  Keep us faithful and help us to always believe!  Amen.

BTW, SIRDS stands for Single Image Random Dot Stereogram

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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