Because of Jesus’ finished work, we now fight from victory rather than for victory.
Most importantly, because of Jesus’ finished work, we now fight from victory rather than for victory. But I daresay… if God truly opened our eyes to the spiritual war being waged around us, we would see something our humanity cannot comprehend. Personally, I have no idea how I would react, so I’m content with not seeing spiritual reality all the time. I am just fine knowing the truth without having to see it.
Nevertheless, my mind can’t get away from those three words – open his eyes – and I wonder… If God opened our eyes to all that He is, all that He is doing, how might we be changed?
How would our relationships change? If you saw all that is taking place around us, you might also see the attacks are not unique to you. Imagine God opening your eyes and discovering that the enemy surrounding your friend is larger than the one surrounding you. Does that change how you treat others? How you pray for them?
How would our prayers change?
If God opened our eyes to all that He is, and all that He is doing, how might we be changed?
I imagine that if our eyes were opened to the fullness of God, the power of His might, the depth of His love, we would go boldly to the throne room of grace and present our requests to God. Our prayers would be dripping with confidence and laden with worship to the God who is as intimate as He is omnipotent.
Imagine the joy of knowing – truly knowing – that One who is completely powerful used His power not only to create you, but to make a way to be reconciled with you?
Imagine God pulling back the curtain of heaven, revealing the risen Savior seated at His right hand, praying for you. Do you see the Holy Spirit interceding on your behalf, taking your prayers and cries and Hannah-like heartache directly before the Father? Can you see the Father’s heart as He weeps over that which has broken you, even while He sings songs of rejoicing over you?
We are not the stars of the story. We never have been. We never will be.
That role belongs to Jesus.
How might our view of ourselves change? If eyes were truly opened, would we understand we are not the stars of the story? We never have been. We never will be. Because God is so kind, so intimately acquainted with us, and because He encourages us to come to Him, He cares about those things that hurt us… it’s easy to become the focus of our own faith.
But faith rooted in seeing God do something great for us, solely to fulfill our own desires, is not a faith that will stand. When everything that can be shaken is finally shaken according to Hebrews 12:27, that kind of faith will fail.
Jesus is not only the source of our faith, He is the foundation upon which our faith is built. He is the Truth that sustains our faith in the wilderness. He is the joy that is our strength. The best part of heaven isn’t the streets of gold or the voices of angels; it’s the fact that Jesus is there.
Jesus is the star. The lead role. We are the supporting cast at best, although we may eventually learn we are nothing more than extras.
The best part of heaven isn’t the streets of gold or the voices of angels.
The best part of heaven is Jesus.
And it’s okay if we make a mistake in our understanding, if our prayers become a little self-focused and we wander away from the joy of simply being in His presence. This side of heaven, we will feel that tension, and we won’t always land on the right side. That’s what repentance is for.
We wouldn’t be the first to misunderstand Jesus’ role. Matthew 11 gives the account of John the Baptist’s incorrect expectations of Jesus. He thought the Son of God would come with weapons in hand setting all things right on the earth. Instead, Jesus willingly gave up His life. And while He did declare war on hell, the struggles on earth continue to this day.
May God open our eyes to see that He is bigger than we ever imagined.
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