Lift Up Your Eyes
by Malcolm Wood
I recently heard a TV presenter talking about the amazing number of stars in the sky and saying that we don’t look up often enough. How true that is, both physically and spiritually! Sometimes we get so caught up with the current challenges and struggles, such as the instability of governments and nations, unrest and conflicts, and uncertainty about the future, that we forget that there’s a bigger picture. We become so focused on our own particular circumstances that nothing else seems to be of significance. We forget that the One who created the universe, (and you and I), holds it all together. He is Sovereign God and is still in control. As far as He is concerned, nothing happens by accident or mistake.
As soon as we’re able to take ours eyes off the immediate circumstances, if only momentarily, and lift them to Him, our perspective changes. We begin to see things in a different light. As the chorus says, ‘and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace’. Th problems won’t necessarily disappear, but when we bring Jesus into the situation and acknowledge His Lordship, He gives the grace, the strength, the courage, and the hope for us to persevere, with a different view of things.
When we begin to see things from Jesus’ perspective, He may then open our eyes further to recognise the need of others whom we can help in some way. We may also begin to see how He’s at work in the lives of other individuals, in families, in communities and in nations all around the world. The prophet Malachi encourages the people of Israel to look beyond their own circumstances and to ‘Lift your eyes to see what God is doing all around the world; then you will say “Truly, the Lord’s great power goes far beyond our borders” (Malachi 1:5). I believe we would all do well to emulate them in that respect and take a glimpse at the bigger picture and acknowledge afresh the greatness of our God.
As we hear, see and read the news, we should also be very aware that Jesus is returning. Our eyes should be lifted, looking and waiting for Him.
‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we also who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words’ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Let’s all keep our eyes lifted.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to keep my eyes lifted and focused on what really matters, You, Your kingdom and Your return, and how You want to work out Your purposes in my life to bring You the glory. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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