Bill had lived a long life, which was drawing to its end. As his family surrounded him on his deathbed, he asked to see his eye doctor. “Eye Doctor?” they asked. “Why in the world do you want to see your eye doctor?” “Just get him for me.” Bill said. So they go get Dr. Kaplan, who, on seeing Bill about to depart this life, asked, “Bill, it pains me to see you like this. What can I possibly do for you?” Bill opened his eyes slightly and said, “Doc, before I go, there’s one thing I have to know. Which one was clearer – A or B?”
I believe that we need to develop our “Spiritual Eyes”. The ways of this world, (God and our interaction in this world) are often hard to understand. We have to be careful not to put these things in a box, but to recognize and live in this “invisible”…. “Spiritual” state. I find the greatest value in life when I can see with “Spiritual Eyes”.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (TNIV)
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
There is a beauty in life that often we can’t see. Sometimes I think that we simply don’t want to look for it. There are treasures in life that can be hidden from our sight, unless we are looking through Spiritual eyes. So, how do we look at life through “Spiritual Eyes”? One thing we can do is focus on the invisible renewal of our hearts as we follow Jesus, and the treasure that lies inside us through Christ–not the visible decay of all that is around us.
As we FOLLOW Jesus, not just believe, as we apply the principles of His wisdom, we are renewed inwardly and continue in that renewal day by day. Instead of looking to ourselves for that renewal (wealth, power, position, etc.), we look to the things God cares about (loving Him and loving others). I invite you to take that set of “spiritual glasses” off the counter (you may not have noticed they were there), and to put them on so that we can see more clearly.
In ancient days, valuables were often hidden in jars of clay. The jars themselves had little value and were fragile. They had little beauty and they attracted little attention. Like those jars, life is also fragile. But also like those jars, there is a beauty and a hope inside, a treasure. While the jars themselves are wasting away there is a treasure inside to be revealed.
I have this jar of clay. It holds some of the things that are in my heart–some of the things that are invisible to you until you look inside. But, when what’s inside is revealed, you can see the hope and eternal love that is a treasure to me.
First, there is a Bible, God’s Word’s to me, a conversation that we share each day. It’s a treasure to me because I know that I can find the answers to all the things that go on in my life coming out of the lips of a God who loves me deeply off of these pages.
Then there is a cross. This cross is on a necklace that I can wear around my neck. It’s real wood because Jesus was crucified on a real wooden cross. I am constantly reminded of His love, His sacrifice and His wisdom that leads me through life. I am constantly reminded of His presence in all the good times as well as His comfort in the tough times.
Lastly, there are pictures of my family. They are treasures in my life that, like God, are more valuable to me than life itself.
My body can waste away, my jar of clay can crumble, but these treasures are timeless. There is a renewal each day in my life that is eternal.
So…..what is in your jar of clay? What are the blessings in your life that can only be seen with spiritual eyes?