Don't Judge by Appearances: Seeing Life Through God's Eyes

How often do we find ourselves making snap judgments based on what we see? Our human perspective is limited, colored by our emotions, intellect, and experiences. But there's another way to view the world - through God's eyes. This shift in perspective can transform how we navigate life's challenges and interpret the events around us.

The Limits of Human Perspective

Our human viewpoint is inherently flawed. It's temporary, often distorting the truth and leading us astray. We see this played out in a humorous story about an elderly man in the hospital. As he recounts to his wife of 55 years all the difficult times she stood by him, he concludes, "Ethel, you're bad luck!" This comical misinterpretation highlights how our limited perspective can cause us to draw incorrect conclusions.

In contrast, God's perspective is unlimited, clear, and eternal. Psalm 19:8 reminds us, "The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living." When we align our vision with God's, we gain access to His infinite wisdom and resources.

The Power of Divine Perspective

Consider the story of David and Goliath. While the Israelite soldiers saw an unbeatable giant, David saw an opportunity for God to display His power. It wasn't that David had better eyesight - he had a different perspective, one rooted in faith and trust in God's capabilities.

This shift in viewpoint is available to all believers. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, ready to guide us towards God's perspective. However, we often default to our familiar, fleshly reactions instead of tapping into this divine resource. Romans 8:8 reminds us that "the flesh has no desire to please God." To truly see life through God's eyes, we must intentionally cultivate our relationship with Him and learn to listen to the Spirit's guidance.

Lazarus: A Lesson in Divine Timing

The story of Lazarus beautifully illustrates the importance of trusting God's perspective over our own. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, He deliberately waited days before going to him. By human standards, this delay seemed cruel or negligent. But Jesus had a greater purpose in mind - He wanted to demonstrate God's power over death itself.

This account introduces us to three groups with different perspectives:

1. The disciples, whose faith was weak despite witnessing numerous miracles.
2. Martha and Mary, who believed in the future resurrection but didn't grasp that the Resurrection and the Life stood before them.
3. The Jewish spectators, who thought Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death if He'd arrived earlier.

Each group's limited perspective prevented them from seeing the full picture of what God was about to do. This teaches us an important lesson: Sometimes God doesn't respond to our situation immediately because He's waiting for the perfect moment to display His glory.

Three Reasons to Trust God's Perspective

1. Obey God's Voice, Even When It Doesn't Make Sense

When Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away from Lazarus' tomb, Martha protested, citing the stench of a four-day-old corpse. But Jesus insisted. This moment challenged Martha's faith - would she trust what she knew about death, or would she obey Jesus' seemingly illogical command?

God often asks us to do things that don't align with our human reasoning. But faith means obeying God's voice, even when we don't understand. As Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." When we internalize God's word, we're better equipped to recognize and follow His voice. After all, God's commands are from His perspective which is higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8) and results in good (Romans 8:28).

2. Believe God's Promises to See His Glory

Jesus told Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). Belief precedes the miracle. When we choose to trust God's promises, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances, we position ourselves to witness His glory.

God allows challenging situations in our lives to strengthen our faith. Each trial is an opportunity to believe Him more deeply. As we learn to trust God through difficulties, our faith grows, and we become living testimonies of His faithfulness.

3. Our Faith Journey Impacts Others

The resurrection of Lazarus wasn't just for the benefit of his family. John 11:45 tells us, "Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him." Our faith journey has a ripple effect, influencing those around us.

We are called to be "billboards" for Christ, displaying His message through our lives. When people observe how we handle trials with faith and grace, it can draw them to Jesus. Our consistent witness - the same "message" displayed every day of the week - can be a powerful testimony to the reality of God's transforming power.

Embracing God's Perspective

Shifting from our limited human perspective to God's divine viewpoint isn't always easy, but it's essential for spiritual growth. Here are some practical steps to help cultivate this mindset:

1. Spend time in God's Word daily, allowing it to reshape your thinking.
2. Practice listening to God in prayer, giving God space to speak into your situations.
3. Surround yourself with other believers who can encourage your faith.
4. Look for God's hand at work in challenging circumstances, trusting that He's working for your good (Romans 8:28).
5. Choose to believe God's promises, even when your emotions or circumstances suggest otherwise.

Remember, God's purpose is more important than our temporary pain. He is constantly working to fulfill His purpose in our lives, with or without our cooperation. By choosing to align our perspective with His, we open ourselves up to experience His power, witness His glory, and become effective ambassadors for His kingdom.

As you face life's challenges, big and small, pause to consider: Are you viewing this situation through human eyes or God's eyes? Don't go with what it looks like on the surface. Instead, trust that God is working behind the scenes, and it's not over until He says it's over. Your willingness to see life through His perspective might just be the key to unlocking the miracle you've been waiting for.