We see with our eyes. Seeing begins and ends with what our eyes can perceive. Many think so. We will first crack this notion before exploring the notion of seeing beyond the vision of our eyes.
Generally we see what is in front of our eyes. That is the default. Yet we may find ourselves agreeing that it is the mind that determines our sight in a bit. Do we see what we want to see? Let us examine this.
Your eyes see what fills your mind
Consider a sports event, or a cultural programme of your child in school. Chances are your eyes scan each child in the event until you notice yours. Then your eyes are glued onto your child. Every other child is out of focus, but your child.
When you or a dear one buys a particular car. Within a week, you see similar cars. It’s not that suddenly the number of cars increases. They were always there. In both instances, your mind directs what you notice.
What fills our heart, directs what our eyes notice.
What we think directs our eyes’ vision.
We can choose to see based on the thoughts we have now. We can also choose to change the way we see, by deciding to have specific thoughts. As an advertising professional, I used to notice only potential opportunities for advertising products and services.
Any of you into fashion design may notice fashion and style everywhere you go.
A security and safety expert may notice instances of lack of security and safety and even aspects that make a particular location safe and secure.
Thus, what we think often influences what we notice and what we see.
Our minds thus influence what catches our attention, what we see. And this can be changed and trained. If a profession we are sincere about and can influence what we notice, we can imagine the potential of wilful changing of our thoughts can change what we can see.
Powerful instances of seeing from the Bible
Prophet Samuel choosing King David Prophet Samuel had gone to the house Jesse of Bethlehem on instruction of God. God told Samuel that HE had chosen one of his sons to be king in place of King Saul ( Ref 1 Samuel 16). While each one of all the seven tall able bodied men passed one by one before Samuel, the Lord guided Samuel on each occasion to reject each one of them for potential Kingship. But the Lord told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Prophet Samuel enquired with Jesse if he had any other sons. Only then Jesse told that he had one another who was tending sheep. Thus Samuel called for David. The rest is history!
Here we can clearly notice that Prophet Samuel could see what God saw. He could hear God’s instruction and choose the right king. Although God’s choice, the right person was not shown, was hidden initially, as Samuel was hearing from God, he was directed by God, to see and choose what God saw! Hindrances did not succeed in becoming a roadblock in ultimately seeing what God had seen.
Men can try and block your seeing and choosing what’s God’s intention, but it would be only a minor delay . If you strongly desire to see in perfect alignment to God’s will, it’s possible. Walking with Him, we become sensitive to His nudges and whisper. Whereas being busy, being in noisy surroundings can prevent things.
Abraham sent his main servant bride hunting. Abraham was old. Sarah died. Abraham knew God’s blessing would come through his son Issac. He knew it was important to get the right wife for Issac. He did not want his son to marry a Canaanite woman as they were idol worshippers. As Abraham was too old he asked his chief servant to go to the country from which Abraham hailed and find a girl from his relations.
Abraham blessed Eliezer. Without any modern communications, Eliezer went far. With ten camels he traveled from Israel to Mesopotamia(Iraq), between the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates and finally reached the city of Nahor. Eliezer went towards the well. Women would generally come to draw water from this well. Eliezer got a thought. Let the girl to whom I ask for water, in addition to offering me a drink, but on her own initiative also offer to give water to the camels. Let this be a sign for me to signal the right bride for Issac. Eliezer asked for water for a drink. And the girl, on her own, offered to give water for the camels as well.
Eliezer asked a girl, she gave him water and offered to give water for the camels to drink as well. Elizer much later discovered that this indeed was Abraham’s brother’s daughter, and thus he accomplished the purpose of getting a bride for his master Abraham’s son, Issac. With great precision he reached Rebekah without any modern communications, neither GPS, nor any mobile or telephones nor telegrams. Eliezer eyes could SEE. He accomplished His master Abrahams will with the Spirit of God directing him. Abraham’s blessing made a way for Eliezer to discern and see and rightfully identify a bride for Issac.
Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree. Philiph was excited and full of great joy as he had met the long awaited Messiah, the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Nathanael was a friend of Philiph. Philip wanted Nathaniel to meet jesus. But Nathanael did not share the excitement of Philiph, especially when he was told Jesus was from Nazareth. He spoke like a skeptic. He wondered saying, “How could anyone great come from Nazareth?” But finally Philiph persuaded Nathanael. When Jesus sees Nathanael approaching him from far, Jesus told, “Here comes a guileless person from Israel.”
Nathaneal was totally surprised that Jesus, whom he was meeting for the first time, knew about him. Nathanael said to Jesus, How do You know me? [How is it that You know these things about me?]
Jesus replied to Nathanael, further amazing Nathanael about Jesus knowing. Nathanael was surprised that Jesus knew so much in detail about his whereabouts, much before Jesus’ eyes saw him face to face. Jesus said thus. (All the blue coloured fonts are verses from the Bible.) Before Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered, Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! Jesus replied, Because I said to you, I saw you beneath the fig tree, do you believe in and rely on and trust in Me? You shall see greater things than this! Then He said to him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you all, you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!
Jesus saw and knew matters before his physical eyes saw. Jesus, Samuel, Joseph, Daniel, Isaiah many others in the Bible, many modern day prophets, seers, many faithful who have a closer walk with Lord God see things in the spiritual realm. They see things far away, they see things in advance and know things. Many such people discern and see clearly the hearts and intents of people.
All these shows that we can live an abundant exciting life with this kind of knowledge, we can see beyond what is physically seen by living a life dwelling in God’s presence. And when Jesus spoke about His seeing and knowing of Nathanael, Nathanael was touched. He believed Jesus Christ was the Lord. Many Nathaneals are around you waiting for Jesus to be manifested through you.
When you SEE beyond, with the eyes of your heart, you can bring Nathaniel’s around you to knowing Jesus Christ as their savior.
As people into business, managing an organization, every once in a while we get to experience SEEing in the marketplace. The joy of these experiences is great. Much more growing up to be done. But even as we desire, HE is faithful. We are bound to progress in SEE better in the days to come. Desire and enjoy this experience. You will find life wholesome and fulfilling!
Seeing from God’s perspective
One of the key requirements to be able to see from God’s perspective is having faith. We need to have faith that God exists. We need to have an assurance that those things which cannot be experienced by our senses, faith will help us to understand as truth. By faith we understand that the world was made by the word of God from things that were not seen.
We can find the verse which brings out this in the Amplified Bible from the Epistle to Hebrews 11:1-3 1 Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 2 For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
There is no need to be stressed about the faith you need to have, because Jesus says that with the faith the size of the mustard seed, you can cast a mountain into the sea. ( Refer Matthew 17:20) Even the smallest amount of faith is powerful enough. Reason, God is very keen to give you His perspective. God desires you see what He sees.
Do you want to change the way you see? Do you want to see the goodness of God?
Fear God. As you fear God, the angel of God will camp around you.He will protect you and deliver you. You will experience this. The verse from Psalm 34:7-9 points to this. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Note that you can experience the goodness of God. This experience is as tangible as tasting. When you sincerely fear God, wanting to please Him, avoiding what displeases God, obey His law and commandments since you fear Him, since you love God, as you trust that obeying God’s commandments is the best way to loving God, you will start seeing and experiencing God’s blessings, God’s goodness.
