I Want the Vision of an Eagle

When I saw this graphic on a friend’s FB post last week, I knew I wanted to retract my words on a New Year’s Eve blog that I made about desirng to have 20/20 vision for 2020.

I had another “epiphany” (seems to be my word of the year). The graphic below is what I saw on my friend’s FB post. "I will not settle for 20/20 vision!" I learned something new. 20/20 vision is just normal vision. I want to have “eagle eye” vision. Eagle eye” describes the highly developed visual ability of bald eagles that can spot a moving rabbit almost a mile away. An eagle, flying at 1,000 foot altitude can spot prey almost 3 square miles. That’s what I call super powerful vision and I want it!

So if the eagle is known for its great vision, what about you and I? I know we can't see a long-way-off naturally. I'm talking about a spiritual "vision". In Proverbs 29:18, Solomon wrote, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he." The word "vision" here means "a mental sight (i.e., a dream, revelation, mentally to perceive, contemplate). The word generally refers to a "divine vision" from God -- and so it means to understand the events happening around us, in the light of what the Bible says about the “times we’re living in”. This scripture puts it into words that surely we should SEE with eagle-eye vision: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (II Timothy 3:1-5).

That surely puts into divine perspective what it looks like in these times. It's true Bible prophecy and when we open our "eagle" eyes and recognize it as truth, we’ll really start to perceive the future, and take warning. Many people lack understanding and spiritual insight. They lack "vision." They also lack "perception" of the things of God -- the deeper truths, and the more profound understandings. They cannot "see afar off.' They are hindered by spiritual near-sightedness.

I know this isn’t my usual “dancing in the rain” kind-of-blog, but deep inside, I pray for us all to have "eagle" eyes. As believers we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us so we do have God’s eyes available to us to see things from His perspective. As we start to draw closer to the Lord in our own personal relationship with Him, there will be times that He will allow us to start “seeing” what certain Scripture verses may mean. We will start to “see” what the real truth is in many matters of our own personal life. When that kind of seeing starts to occur, we know that it is the Holy Spirit Himself allowing us to see through His eyes, not our eyes. It's God Himself literally allowing us to see things from His point of view and perspective.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” But we first have to see what that truth is before it can set us free. In Proverbs 22:3, Solomon wrote, "A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.." This graphic says, “As citizens of the Kingdom, we must live beyond the norm. To do so, we must see what others do not see." Bring on that eagle vision, dear Lord, that is at least four times greater than our 20/20 vision. I desire that 20/5 vision. I want to see clearly the signs of the times -- ready to see as God sees and love as He loves and acts as He acts. Open my eyes, Lord! I want to see as YOU see!

If I Could Have One Wish…….

I remember overhearing a conversation between my two youngest grandsons. Brennan, asked his younger brother, Bryson, "If you had a genie in a bottle, what would you wish for?" They certainly earned love tokens when they both said: "For Nana to live with us forever!" They had some other outlandish wishes, but that one put a big smile on this Nana's face.

That conversation and memory made me think about what I would ask for today if a genie in a bottle showed up to grant me one wish, or even if God showed up and asked what one prayer could He answer for me today. How about you? What would YOU ask for? What does YOUR heart long for the most? No doubt, our answers would vary: More time in the day? A healed body? A restored relationship? A financial breakthrough? A child? A spouse? Strength to make it through this day? A dream vacation? World peace?

King David’s son, Solomon, was asked by God what one thing He could grant him. King Solomon responded: "wisdom to lead God’s people." Evidently, God liked that response because He gave him a wise and discerning mind. And Solomon became known as the wisest man in all of Israel. People from far and wide came to him for his wisdom. (1 Kings 3)

King David's wish (or ask) went like this: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4) I am drawn to the “one thing” David asked of God — to dwell in His house forever. More than anything, David longed to be in God’s presence. No wonder he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” David experienced many highs and lows in his life, but I think his life's theme was a singular longing to be in God’s presence.

In my blog yesterday, I spoke about being in God’s presence – how in His presence, we will know what to do, where to go and even what to say – because in His presence is the answer for everything. That is “my wish” and my prayer today, that our hearts will be filled with this one thing . . . a desire to dwell in His presence. I’m pretty sure God delights in lavishing His love upon us. In fact, Jesus tells us God takes it to a level beyond anything any parent has ever done for their children. After all, He has already been more generous toward us than we will ever deserve. To live daily practicing His presence creates plenty of opportunities for God to show up and show out. No, He's not a Genie or Fairy Godmother, but He is the God in WHOM all things are possible. What better place to be than in His presence?