A Near Sighted Christianity
If you know me at all, you know that I wear glasses for a reason. Without them, I can't see my hand in front of my face! I have astigmatism. I can't very well near or far. I know several people who are near-sighted. Nearsightedness or myopia is the inability of the eye to focus on distant objects. The nearsighted eye has no difficulty viewing nearby objects, only those things that are far away.
Now, here's my point. Reading the Scriptures this morning I became convicted that I am suffering from a near-sighted Christianity. My focus has been almost entirely on the problems at hand. Working to see God revitalize our Church, a new addition to our family (not a problem, a blessing, but consuming none the less), beginning the process of finding a new home, etc; all of these things have dominated my mind. I have become near-sighted. It has been difficult to focus on the eternal when the temporal was overwhelming me!
Probably the great majority of American Christianity suffers from this spiritual myopia. We are all about today and the problems of the hour. What can Jesus do for me right now? How does my faith impact my family problems and my work issues and my financial struggles? For pastors, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the challenges of ministry and the myriad of problems we face.
Colossians 3:1 instructs us to set our minds on things above. This does not mean we ignore the problems of life, but that we see and view our life through the eternal and through the Word of God. I found myself caught up and swept away by the grandeur and the glory of the Gospel this morning. As I thought of God's working in and through history to redeem His people I was amazed at His foresight and wisdom. I was staggered by the thoughts of eternity and glory in His presence. And you know what? My near-sighted problems and worries seemed a lot less troublesome.
If you know me at all, you know that I wear glasses for a reason. Without them, I can't see my hand in front of my face! I have astigmatism. I can't very well near or far. I know several people who are near-sighted. Nearsightedness or myopia is the inability of the eye to focus on distant objects. The nearsighted eye has no difficulty viewing nearby objects, only those things that are far away.
Now, here's my point. Reading the Scriptures this morning I became convicted that I am suffering from a near-sighted Christianity. My focus has been almost entirely on the problems at hand. Working to see God revitalize our Church, a new addition to our family (not a problem, a blessing, but consuming none the less), beginning the process of finding a new home, etc; all of these things have dominated my mind. I have become near-sighted. It has been difficult to focus on the eternal when the temporal was overwhelming me!
Probably the great majority of American Christianity suffers from this spiritual myopia. We are all about today and the problems of the hour. What can Jesus do for me right now? How does my faith impact my family problems and my work issues and my financial struggles? For pastors, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the challenges of ministry and the myriad of problems we face.
Colossians 3:1 instructs us to set our minds on things above. This does not mean we ignore the problems of life, but that we see and view our life through the eternal and through the Word of God. I found myself caught up and swept away by the grandeur and the glory of the Gospel this morning. As I thought of God's working in and through history to redeem His people I was amazed at His foresight and wisdom. I was staggered by the thoughts of eternity and glory in His presence. And you know what? My near-sighted problems and worries seemed a lot less troublesome.
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