What Do You See?

The other day while listening to a voice message with a friend, we each heard something different. I find it interesting that two people can be at the same place, hear the same words, see the same incident, but have a different perspective to share.

Who is right? They both are of course. Take a look at the image of the lady. What do you see? An old lady? Or do you see the young lady? Both are right; it just depends on the perspective.

Each one of us have different perspectives based on our experiences. We have had different experiences and cultural backgrounds. As a result, we've also had different trials and situations. We can see things differently, but in order to live a Totally Transplanted life, we need to see things from God's point of view.

How do we see from His perspective? First, we acknowledge our need for a Savior. Then we allow Him to lead us and finally we can see clearly.

Then[Jesus] came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. (Mark 8:22-25, NKJV)

Acknowledge the Need

In the above Scripture reference, we see that the blind man was taken to meet Jesus. He "begged Him to touch him." That is the point this man acknowledged His need for a Savior. He was blind and he acknowledged only Jesus could heal him.

Not all of us are physically blind, but it is possible to allow circumstances to hinder our perspective. When in the midst of a storm, we can lose our sense of direction. We need someone to direct us. If we allow our hurts, disappointments, anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness to direct our steps, we are emotionally blinded by our circumstances. In this state, the decisions we make will be more detrimental to ourselves.

Before acknowledging my need to live for Christ, I allowed my emotions to dictate my decisions and my actions. If I felt mad, I let everyone within my hearing know it (and even those who were slightly out of range as I became very loud). If you were dining somewhere fifteen years ago and saw a woman having a child-like temper tantrum, it could have been me. Please forgive me. I had yet to acknowledge my need for a Savior.

Be Led by Jesus

" So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, 'I see men like trees, walking'" (Mark 8:23-24)

Because we are blind, we must allow ourselves to be led by Jesus. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him. If we put our hand in the hand of our Savior, He will lead us to a place where healing can take place. Jesus took the blind man out of town, spit on his eyes and placed His hands on him.

This is Jesus, the Healer. We would expect an instant healing at His touch. But after the spit and the touch of Jesus hand, He asked, "What do you see?" The man replied, "I see men like trees, walking." The man still lacked clear vision. An incomplete healing.

How many times have we come to the Healer with our hurts, disappointments, anger, and bitterness to only let go of part of it. Sometimes, we may think we have a right to hold onto those hurts to protect ourselves. We need to trust in the touch (and the spit) of the Healer for He will protect us from those horrible experiences.

If our answer to Christ is that we see "men like trees, walking" then we only have a partial healing. We need to look up again for Him to complete us.

To See Clearly

" Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly” (Mark 8:25).

Jesus will touch us again (and again), having us look up for Him. He desires for us to experience wholeness in Him. When we receive completeness from Christ, we will see clearly.

I don’t know of anyone on earth who has reached this point completely. Yet we can experience it in portions and repeat the process over and over again until we receive our glorious bodies.

We can experience seeing clearly when we allow ourselves to see Christ in the lives of others. It's not always easy, but when I feel hurt or offended by someone, I try to stop and ask the Lord to allow me to see things from His perspective.

From my position, I can easily see offense. But from God's perspective, He can see all that person has been through. God shows mercy, love and grace to us all. Seeing through His eyes, we will see more clearly and extend the same to others.

If we're living Totally Transplanted lives, we won't see "men like trees, walking." Transplanted trees in God's kingdom remain with Him. We acknowledge our need for Christ, allow ourselves to be led by Him, and then by His touch we can see clearly. What do you see?