Perspective: Our nearsighted problem

Perspective: our nearsighted problem

Our God is a God that is in a constant activity of restoring and creating. The problem is our minds are so weak compared to the spiritual reality of what is going on that we rarely see the big picture. Our insecurities and preconceived thoughts of how things should be make us latch on to certain phrases or circumstances. Once we latch on it is hard for us to hear, see, feel or be aware of anything else that is said or done. I see this in my own life, in the life of churches and even in bible passages. In Mark chapter 8 we see this played out in verses 31 through 34. It begins with Jesus presenting "plainly" to His disciples the most important crossroads of human history. He explains a process that will change our path to redemption forever. His rejection, the cross, and the resurrection will tear the veil between us and God as Jesus would become the high priest once and for all. But instead of rejoicing Peter immediately rebukes Jesus and wants to stop the process. What was Peter's issue? Jesus describes Peter's nearsighted problem in verse 33. Jesus says the reason Peter doesn't see the big picture is because of a wrong perspective. He describes it as having his mind set on the things of man and not the things of God. Jesus never struggled with nearsightedness because He was always focused on the "will" of God. Jesus even taught us to pray with the attitude of God's will being done on earth as it is being done in heaven. Jesus calls Peter "Satan" in this passage because that is where our nearsighted problem originated from. Even in the garden of Eden Satan was getting mankind to focus on what was directly in front of him and ignore the bigger picture of a kingdom mindset. As long as we focus on our selves we will never experience true health or growth. As long as churches focus on themselves they will never experience true health or growth. That's just the way Satan like us and the church; nearsighted, insecure, fear filled, believe it when we see it, earthly grounded, worldly minded, self absorbed, self centered, self preserving, weak humans. The problem is this sort of nearsightedness leads to blindness. Then we become blind guides leading blind people which puts us both in a pit of despair. Once we lose vision we lose life! Let's celebrate daily the big picture of God's love and His plan for us and the rest of mankind. Never taking our eyes off the treasure that is set before us in the author and perfecter of our faith, JESUS!