X-ray Eyes

 I'm sure that most of you have seen a superhero movie or two over the years.  Watching one of those shows is an easy way to escape from the regular grind and offers the opportunity to imagine another world; usually a world that is big and exciting.  There is always a massive danger that threatens humanity's existence, and the odds of ovecoming the challenge are overwhelming to nearly impossible.  The superheros will always come up with some crazy plan, justify it with hope, and set out with their last ounce of strength, and lo' and behold, they come out on top and all is well.

It's a formula that works well in a world of make-believe but not so well in real life where superhero powers are not easily available to the average joe.

And yet, there is something to be said for the idea that we can live in this world with other-worldly powers.

Imagine this for a second:  What would it be like if you had the ability to actually see things that are not visible to natural human eyes?  If this were possible (I know this all sounds very strange) it would be like having x-ray powers right?  Imagine this now:  if you had x-ray powers think about how you could help people.  So you're sitting in your friend's livingroom and you notice a crack in the natural gas line behind the wall.  You tell him to get it fixed and you prevent a massive explosion!  Good stuff! You saved the day!

But what does this have to do with real-life?

Amazingly, there is available to people a form of x-ray vision. . .the ability to see what is not visible to the natural eye.  And as crazy as this sounds, we are actually invited to experience it for real!

In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we are told to ". . .fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is seen is eternal."

We all know that something that lasts a long time is made of much more quality stuff than something that only lasts for a short while.  In the above passage we are being told to look at something that lasts for a long, long time, so it must be of great worth and solidly built. But it adds that this 'thing' we are to look at is something we can't see.  Doesn't seem super helpful on the surface. . .and yet it does seem somehow compelling doesn't it?

The crazy thing about all of this is the difference between the idea of having x-ray eyes that see broken pipes in walls and eyes that can see things that normally can't be seen.  The x-ray eyes thing isn't real, it just couldn't happen, and nobody is saying that it could.  But having eyes that can see beyond this world into another world is real, and we are being invited into trying it out for ourselves.  

We live in a world that is filled with things that are temporary, kind of poor quality, things that don't last, things that really only give short-term highs that don't satisfy. And since that is the world that we live in every single day, it can seem like there is no other option, and often no other hope.  

Wouldn't it be nice if there was another way to live?  Wouldn't it be encouraging to know that the sickness you struggle with isn't going to last forever, but there is a healing that is coming that will?  Wouldn't it be exciting to imagine that your journey of walking through life alone is not the ultimate path for you but that you could walk it with someone who loves you more than you could imagine?  Isn't the idea that all the work you do, and all the ways it seems you come up short, is not the fullest expression of life and that you are meant for more than only producing a paycheque?  There is more in store for you.  But you have to be able to see something beyond this world in order to grasp what's being offered.

And so God says to us that we should fix our eyes on Him.  He is built to last.  He is made of quality stuff.  And He has made it possible to really see Him in this life.  

How is this possible?  God sent Jesus to show us it's possible.  The only way to see beyond this world to something that is truly valuable is to trust Jesus and invite Him to show you the way.  

Yes, it's possible to have 'x-ray eyes' that can see a life that is worth living.  It can sometimes take super-human effort to fix our gaze on Him when this world gets in the way.  But it's worth it.  And it's there for you.

Many blessings friend,

B