What Are YOU Looking At?

Well, the storm has passed and we awoke to a glorious day with bright blue skies and a crisp, almost-fall-like, morning!  We had a few strong gusts of wind on Monday night that definitely shook the house, and a very short period of heavy rain yesterday morning with the skies opening up late in the afternoon.  So again, I am thankful to God and His watchfulness over us during the storms of life.

I was impressed with what Matthew 14:25-33 teaches us about facing the storms of life when I studied it yesterday morning.  The key of the entire lesson seems to focus (pun intended!) in on how we look at what is coming against us.

This first came to light during the previous evening when we were watching a segment of “The Five” on Fox News.  They were discussing some of the parts of Hillary Clinton’s new book that were released prior to the book’s going on sale.  As I listened to a few of her statements concerning her view of the 2016 Presidential campaign, I was amazed at how totally differently she saw things than the way most conservatives including myself saw them.  I was a little stunned at how she could take the innocent words and statements of others and attribute them to some nefarious scheme that only a fiction adventure, conspiracy theory writer could dream up.

At one point I hit the mute button on the TV remote control (we have a ‘smart’ remote that controls every device and every function on every piece of equipment with our entertainment system… and it is fantastic!) and mentioned to Piper that I am still in awe at how people can think so utterly different from each other.  That it is almost like they are from two different worlds!  But as I read from the Word yesterday morning, I began to have an appreciation of how this can happen!

In Matthew 14:25-33 we find Jesus’ disciples traveling in a boat after a ministry event, when a storm arises.  Jesus had sent them ahead while He stayed behind to pray.  Well, when the veracity of the storm reached alarming proportions the disciples got a little alarmed and then totally freaked out when they saw Jesus coming toward them… walking on the water… in the middle of the storm.  And that is when things got especially interesting.  The Scriptures tell us:

“And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."   And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."   Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Matthew 14:25-33 English Standard Version)

What immediately stood out to me in this verse is the different ways in which Peter saw things during the storm.  First he and his fellow disciples were terrified when they thought they saw an apparition floating across the waves toward their boat.  Once they realized it was Jesus and not a ghost, Peter gained confidence and asked the Lord to command him to come out on the water as well.  So Jesus did, and Peter did as well… until he took his physical eyes off of Jesus and began to spend more time looking at the waves beneath his feet than on Jesus and His command to come.  And… SPLASH!  Peter quickly began to sink like a rock (hummm… another pun!).

Then the revelation hit me… It all depends on what your eyes are focused on in this life!  There are a lot of people out there who think a whole heck of a lot different than I do… because our eyes are on different things!  As I analyzed the above portion of scripture I understood that in the midst of a storm in this life, discerning the events happening around you with your physical eyes quickly initiates a fearful response to the situation… and that fear causes one to do many crazy things!  On the other hand though, by spiritually discerning the storm we initiate our faith and therefore respond to the situation within the standards set by the Word… and not those of the world.

Piper and I have personally experienced this as we have stood on our faith in the Word for His healing for her.  Not everyone has always seen things the same way we see them… and at times this has led to frustration and friction between us and them, especially as we have continued to follow what we believe are the Lord’s directions for us, no matter what the situation looks like on the outside.

The Message Bible paraphrases Peter’s response in verse 30 by stating: “But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"   I had to laugh at that description of the events of that day, for I have personally experienced how one can lose their nerve when standing in faith, despite some very contrary evidence that is screaming into your eyes and ears!  It takes nerve to stand up for what you believe you are doing that is agreement to God’s Word, but in disagreement with what people close to you may be telling you… and others about you!

So… whose point of view matters the most?  Well folks, Piper and I have come too far for too long to put our expectation and view on anything but Papa God and His Word!  How about you?

Just what are you looking at? 

Have a great rest of the week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Who or What am I expecting to focus my eyes on today… or tomorrow… or the day, month and year after that?”