"What is happening?" I asked my husband as we watched the handsome, young man rap out a glamorous performance.
I had no point of reference for the Superbowl Halftime Show playing across the screen. I knew it wasn't meaningless, but I could barely understand the words he was saying, let alone grasp all the scene changes. An analysist says later that Serena Williams was part of the performance. I totally missed that.
"That was dumb and pointless." I commented in my naivety.
Later that week, I realized that I was the dumb one. It wasn't that the show was pointless. On the contrary, points were definitely made. The problem was my blindness. I had a complete lack of insight into the message being sent. I came across a few different videos explaining the significance of Kendrick Lamar's performance and literally, my mind was blown at everything that I hadn't seen as I'd watched with my own eyes. Turns out, the people toward which the halftime show was directed understood the message entirely.
And it's stuck with me, this experience with blindness. Big things were happening right in front of my eyes, yet I was completely clueless.
Don't you feel this same way as we watch the war in the Middle East unfold? What's happening over there right now is something Christians have talked about for YEARS as a huge sign that the end of the world is upon us. As a matter of fact, I've read "end times" fictional books that eerily described things that seem entirely possible at this moment in time.
It all looks and feels big, but also like I can't understand the words, let alone keep up with the scene changes. This is so much more complicated than Israel vs Palestine. There are Syrians involved...Iranians...Egyptians now. The more I know, the more I am convinced that implementing any simple solution would be like taking a sledge hammer to a crystal flower vase.
In addition to the uprisings and conflicts around the world, we have planes falling out of the sky, earthquakes everywhere, fires burning up whole cities, weather events wiping out towns every other day, pandemics sweeping nations. We have a guy in charge of the government who owns a company that wants to implant AI chips in the human brain and is a huge proponent of a worldwide digital currency. It's like someone tore a page out of Revelation and is now implementing the plan.
Am I saying its the end of the world? I'm sure that every generation who has been through anything terrifying...the Bubonic plague, World Wars, Presidential assassinations...has thought it was the end. Jesus says its not for us to know the exact times and dates. And honestly, that's fine with me. I don't want to know.
But it strikes me hard that big, significant things can be happening right in front of our eyes, and we aren't able to see them. Blindness has always been a problem with humans, and often we turn to the wrong people and things to restore our sight.
Jesus said "For judgment I came into the world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind (John 9:39)."
Jesus also said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12)."
Things are getting crazy out there, and if you aren't following Jesus...aren't abiding by His policies...blindness will overtake you.
Here's the thing about understanding the Bible, especially when it talks about the end of the world. God's not trying to scare us. He's trying to get us to watch and stay alert. "For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corin 11:14)." It's too easy to think you are enlightened about the complicated things of this world when you are simply deceived. So the Creator is continually warning us to watch.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matt 7:15
"Watch out for those who cause division and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you've learned." Romans 16:17
"Watch out! Be on your guard against greed; life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Luke 12:15
"Watch and pray so that you don't fall into temptation..." Matt 26:41
"The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray." I Peter 4:7
"Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16
"Not neglecting gathering together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching." Heb 10:25
"Watch out that you do not lose what we've worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded." 2 John 1:8
Our influence, in these days when light is going out all over the world for so many people and the spirit of lawlessness is no longer held back in the way it once was, is so important. We are the ones walking in the light. We are the ones who once were blind, but now we see. We are the ones watching...on our guard...resisting the temptation to exchange godliness for national pride. We are the ones offering the hope that is eternal and the love that does not discriminate.
We are the ones who cannot afford to throw away compassion for any humans made in God's image. We can't succumb to a focus on pride and exclusivity. We can't justify our attitudes by listing the sins of others. We who have been forgiven much cannot refuse to lower ourselves to consider the plight of another and offer anything but God's love and forgiveness. The choice to take it is theirs, but we kid ourselves if we think Jesus died for us so we could decide when someone is "too far gone".
Blindness is a possibility for all of us.
"Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and drive out demons in your name and in your name perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers." Matt 7:21-23
And the precursor to blindness is pride.
"Some of the Pharisees (religious teachers and leaders) who were nearby heard Jesus say this ("this" being the earlier Scripture I shared about Jesus coming to help some see and make others blind) and asked, "Are you saying we are blind, too?" Jesus said, "IF you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you say that you see, your guilt remains." (John 9:40-41).
Ouch. If we can't check ourselves for blindness, we're already there.
Are we blind? Are we missing the message and the point? Are we throwing away our light without even noticing that we are? Have we focused in so much on this world, its systems, and its philosophies that we can't see the Kingdom any more?
Can we read verses like Matthew 21:31-46 and see how our lives are aligned with the philosophy of Christ? Can we relate any more to Luke 6:27-36? Can we read Philippians 2:1 -11 and see that this attitude also governs our own lives and the lives of those with our deepest respect and admiration?
Are we turning to Google more than the Holy Spirit? Are we more invested in the latest press release or government brief than we are God's Word? Are we frantically searching for worldly answers or confidently relying on Kingdom answers? Are we stirring up fear in our discussions over world events or are we offering encouragement and hope?
These are the questions nagging me as I continue to watch the world spiral. These are the questions that might open our eyes and help us to reposition when we are off track. Maybe our altimeter is reading differently from our actual altitude. If we don't address the problem, we are flying blind...headed for a collision that won't just harm us. It will hurt others too.
We aren't here to create some earthly utopian one world order. We've been told point blank that this world is passing away. No one can stop it. While it continues to do that, we can't allow ourselves to lose sight of what's eternally important. Our purpose is entirely wrapped up in following the Light.
Beth Moore encouraged people recently in a sermon to ask God to open their eyes to what He wants them to see. It's a scary request. What will we see when He does? What will need to be changed? Will we have the courage to course correct? Will we have the humility? Only one thing is certain. If we remain blind, we'll completely miss His message and His point. We'll be walking around in darkness with no Light convinced that we see clearly. That's a chance I'm not willing to take. Are you?
Open our eyes, Lord.
Comments