I've always been terrified of trying to put contact lenses in my eyes, but in recent months, my glasses have created an increasing problem as I try to do various activities. So, this week I went to the eye doctor to get fitted for contacts. Despite having an incredible doctor, with whom God opened some wonderful doors for ministry, I left still horribly incompetent in putting in (and even worse at taking out) my contacts. The first night, it took me about four hours to get them out. It took about 40 minutes to get em in the next morning, and 30 minutes to get them out the second night. This morning, I got them in within about 10 minute and this evening got em out in 5. What started as a virtual impossibility isn't easier to do, but is clearer and clearer how to get it done. I'm getting better and better at deliberately and calmly poking myself in the eye 10 to 50 times in a row.
Of course, most importantly, I can see! I can play tennis without going blind with sweat. I can take off sunglasses on a hike without also losing the ability to see the trail. I can shoot a video or participate in a video conference without creating such a horrible reflection off glasses that no one can see my eyes. In just a few days, it's become obvious that the benefits of contact lenses far outweigh the difficulty of the learning curve to get them in and out!
I can work more, play more, accomplish more, and enjoy more because I have greater clarity, but clarity is coming slowly and at a cost.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesis, "[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,having the eyes of your hearts enlightened..."
Paul prayed God would give wisdom and revelation - knowledge AND understanding - that only comes from clarity of vision. By having a vision that reaches our very heart, Paul knew we could begin to experience the "much more" of authentic spiritual life promised in Christ.
What did Paul want us to see? What knowledge and understanding is necessary for us to truly walk in the abundant life Christ has given us? He tells us what we will come to know when we have such clarity from God:
"...that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe..."
In other words, with God given clarity, Paul knew we would see the Christ-confident reality of His work through us (hope of calling), that we'd see the value we have as saints (inheritance), and that we would begin to discover how great the power He exercises toward us for His glory, by grace.
Immovable hope, irrefutable value, immeasurable power. These are already yours as a believer. You have no more to gain from Him, having received all this and more in Christ ALREADY.
So, how do we begin to EXPERIENCE all we have? God gives us clarity.
What's our job in experiencing it? God gives us clarity of US - true wisdom and understanding of all we have - as we seek clarity of CHRIST!
Hebrew 12 says, "Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him (that's you!), endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down (meaning finished with all that was necessary) at the right hand of the throne of God."
So as we seek clarity of Jesus and His FINISHED WORK for us, God gives clarity of all we have in Him.
And then - after trying, and failing, and struggling, and striving for so long - we too can increasingly enjoy the Abundant Life He came to give - and has already given - to each of us who believe!
My prayer is like Paul's:
That you too would strive only to rest in the finished work of Christ...
That you would have your eyes opened to the hope, significance, and power that's yours in Jesus...
And as you see Him, and He reveals Himself in you,
that you would walk in His Life now made yours by grace.
ridiculously graced...
-mike.
