God-Centered Glasses

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them!’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15-17

There are two basic Christian principles in this story which are instrumental in our Christian walk. The first principle applied to this story is the importance of having God-centered vision. If left to our natural vision we scan our circumstances and view them from our self-centered vision. This vision includes our will, our agenda and our fears. Our focus will be our perspective derived from our past experiences and future fears. The more intimate we become with God we begin seeing circumstances in our lives through his lens instead of our own lens. We see His footprints and fingerprints in places others cannot see. ‘Our natural sight interprets everything according to our own desires, experiences, purposes and preferences. God-centered vision interprets the world from God’s perspective, purposes, desires and activity. This orientation to God puts us in a position to walk with Him by faith.’ By Faith, p. 71.

The second principle for which to recognize is our ability to see God’s plan in the lives of others. Elisha prayed an intercessory prayer on behalf of his servant for God to show him the protection and provision that was right before their eyes. We should also pray for those with lesser faith to have the God-centered vision so they may be comforted. Both men were looking at the same hillside but were seeing very different realites. One saw fear and doom while the other saw provision and protection. We need to be very aware of our responsibility in helping others focus on God’s activity in their life.

‘Through the prayer of faith the Lord can open the eyes of our hearts to the reassuring fact that He is defending us and frustrating Satan’s destructive intentions.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 397.

1 John 4:4b echoes the need to focus on the unseen hand of God rather than the visible circumstances that the world may produce. The unseen hand of God will always be more powerful than the visible hand of man.

‘…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’