Misty Optics

           

            I’ve been thinking about Gehazi—Elisha’s servant. Do you remember Elisha the prophet of Old Testament times? He had the nerve to ask for double of what Elijah the prophet before him had. (Sometimes I don’t even take hold what is mine spiritually, let along ask for more!) How long had this Gehazi fellow been hanging out with the prophet? Long enough to see that the power of God was upon him.

            Years ago my mother saw a sign in an optometrist’s office. The sign had a clever twist to the words: “You can’t be optimistic with misty optics.” That was exactly Gehazi’s problem. He had no optimism because his vision was clouded. His eyes had seen some amazing miracles. Still, he hadn’t quite gotten it. Gehazi’s gaze was hazy!

If it’s true that being spiritual is not about activity—reading your Bible, praying, service—but rather viewing the world and circumstances from God’s perspective, than Gehazi blew it. When the forces of the physical world surrounded the prophet, Gehazi gazed linearly. (See II Kings 6:8-23.) He was terrified of what he saw.

            So Elisha asked God to open his eyes. “My eyes are open,” Gehazi must have thought. But he didn’t realize that his spiritual eyes were fogged. He saw the physical—and it was frightening, out of control, impossible. They were dead ducks!

            I’m no different than Gehazi. I know all the miracles Jesus did. I have my favorites, the ones that touch me the most. I even have a print of one of the miracles hanging in my living room. I know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that he has power to save and transform. But . . . . Why do I so often say but? I think it’s because I’m viewing life through my human eyes, not my spiritual. I crave that same old “line.” I want to see before I believe.

            I’ve been praying about some things for a long time—a long time to me. Admittedly, I’ve had my highs and lows. Tromping the journey of faith can be like that. Now I’m asking God to give me spiritual eyes while I’m still praying about those long-time concerns. The array on the human level is real, but the forces of the Kingdom are greater. My journey of faith is teaching me to walk in the spiritual realm, to anticipate big victories where the foe looks invincible.

            So what’s going on in your life? Is it crushing, impossible? Or it is just the debilitating day-in-day-out journey that erodes your faith and joy? Think about asking God for some clean optics to see things from his perspective.  In the words of Elisha: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (II Kings 6:16, NIV).