Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello again, dear people.

No—I didn’t die—yet. I’m just well on my way. Lots happening amidst decreased energy. Oh well.

Becki headed out early to a doctor’s appointment, to be followed by her Bible Study in Woodburn. I need to get active with a little logging operation—bucking, yarding, and decking some logs in preparation for milling them. That will also involve moving my track hoe down to that site.

May you day go well.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Paul recognized that physical eyes that see physical/temporal reality are not as essential as spiritual eyes that see spiritual/eternal reality. He prays this way for the Ephesian believers: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19).

That idea is amplified in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. I’ll take the liberty to stick in some of my own parenthetical comments: “Therefore we do not lose heart (…but sometimes we do, don’t we?). Though outwardly we are wasting away (My physical eyes feed me with plenty of evidence from the mirror), yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (What would we do without this resource of encouragement and renewal?). For our light and momentary troubles (which don’t always feel very light) are achieving for us an eternal glory (yet to be fully disclosed) that far outweighs them all (We need to become competent at weighing things). So we fix our eyes (heart eyes) not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary (not so important), but what is unseen is eternal (extremely important).”

Furthermore, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts (your heart eyes) on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Notice how the FOCUS VERSE begins—“I will.” That underscores the vital role played by personal choice and initiative. If I don’t “lift up my eyes” to the Lord, who else will or can lift them up? While the Lord desires that I lift up my eyes to Him and His values, He has chosen to never force the matter this side of eternity.