Seeing is believing?
Apparently, our digital world is slowly but surely removing the dexterity needed to hold a pen to write. This may not seem like a problem. After all, keyboards are everywhere, and we even have autocorrect to make sure we don’t look unschooled, (in spelling at least), and the increasing sophistication of AI makes it quite easy to pass oneself off as a writer. I certainly don’t want to debate these developments here, but what DOES interest me, is the way what is NOT real is slowly taking on the weight of reality. Of course, this does not only apply to writing. Everything that goes in at the “eye gate” is increasingly manipulated, so that we really “can’t believe our eyes” and, indeed, if we’re wise, we shouldn’t!
I wonder how often I have read the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection in John 20, but today I noticed something for the first time. When the angels had finished speaking to Mary Magdaline, the Bible tells us she turned and saw Jesus but not recognizing him, spoke to him as the gardener. Then, when Jesus spoke her name, it again says “she turned.” I wonder why she didn’t immediately recognize him. Perhaps her eyes were blinded by tears at first, or perhaps, having stooped down to look in the tomb, she was still bent over and looking down. Or perhaps Jesus deliberately stood outside of her direct line of vision, not wanting to frighten her with something she certainly did not expect. But whatever spoiled her vision at first was cleared when she turned a second time. In my mind’s eye I see her turn and look UP!
Like me, I’m sure that you have often stood some place, eagerly waiting for beloveds to appear – the sound of a car in the driveway that makes you throw the front door wide open and shout “At last!”; someone from the other side of the world whose travel-weary face lights up when they see you; a little child, running into your arms after their first day at school.
I DO love Hebrews 9v28 in the Amplified: “…so Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear [as a burden] the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.”
The grace of God abounds in my life, and I certainly don’t have a death wish, but I confidently look UP for his appearing with increasing eagerness. I am eager to experience the perfect rulership of heaven’s perfect King. I am eager to experience a world no longer in thrall to the enemy of our souls. I am eager for every tear to be dried and all suffering to cease.
Blessed are those called to witness the heart-bursting glory of Revelation 6v14 – “…The sky rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands moved from their places!”
Even so, come Lord Jesus!
