Genesis 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I’ve been lucky so far in my life not to need eyeglasses, though my vision could certainly be better. It is amazing how much eyeglasses are able to improve vision, from blurry to clear. By simply wearing glasses over our eyes, we’re able to see and interact with a whole new world, at least that’s how it might feel. Glasses afford us the opportunity to look at things in a whole new way.
Faith is just like wearing glasses, in many ways. We look at things differently, even more clearly than what we had before. Without faith, it’s like we’re impaired, only seeing the blurry outline of things that are around us. For there’s more to see by faith than what is distinguishable to the naked eye.
In our Epistle lesson this week, Paul reminds us to see beyond the blurry world in front of us. We often become blinded by our present struggles and afflictions that we stop looking at things for what they are. As Paul writes, “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen,” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. By faith, we’re to see that there’s so much more than the life before us. There’s more to life than the physical world and its struggles. There’s faith also that can open our eyes to what presently can’t be viewed.
This isn’t to make light of our present struggles and challenges. There’s no doubt that there are many things facing us as the Church, as a country, and specifically as individuals that look and seem undefeatable, inevitable, and enduring. There are many things in this world that seem to squash our hope for a better life and future. But as Christians, we can’t be blinded by them. We must put back on our glasses of faith and look at them for what they are. Temporary. The struggles of this life, no matter how immense, are but temporary in the timeline of eternity.
“So we do not lose heart.” 1 Corinthians 4:16. We do not shrink from our struggles; for by faith we can see the true reality of our life in Christ. As Christians, we look to Christ and his life for us. We see Jesus cross the impassible chasm of our sin. We see Jesus heal every illness that seemed incurable. We see Jesus teach us the impossible. We see Jesus die on the cross for us so that by his death, he may conquer the unconquerable. By Jesus’ death on the cross, we’re to see victory in defeat, life in death, and forgiveness for every sin. This is why we must speak and bear witness… for we know that there is still hope no matter our circumstances because Christ has died and is risen for us! By this faith, we can see life in a whole new light. We can see life in Christ that shall be unto eternity!
Pastor Sorenson
Prayer:
Almighty and eternal God, Your Son Jesus triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from bondage to sin. Help us to stand firm against every assault of Satan, and enable us always to do Your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!