I was typing a document in Word yesterday when all of the sudden, it seemed like the computer had a mind of its own! It began filling in words and "talking to me" as words appeared on the screen that I had not written. It is usually quiet in the room I am in during my time on the computer, but when one of my sons walked into the room, I noticed that the computer started "talking" again. That's when I realized the microphone had been activated! It was good to know I wasn't crazy!
I don't use my microphone for writing purposes, but for some reason... I decided to program it to recognize my voice yesterday so that I could use it if I wanted to.
During those computer training sessions, I read aloud from pre-programmed passages from books, etc. One of those books was "The Problem with Philosophy". The passage talked about 'absolutes' and how things can "change" based upon some one's point of view. This is so true. They used a table for example and then went on to explain that from different angles, the color could be perceived as different, as well as the shape and texture. Therefore, the very things that seem absolute (very definite) in our minds become questioned when our point of view changes.
WOW! That hit me. POV (Point of View) is very important when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. Emotionally and mentally, our point of view is shaped by the grid of our character, our experiences, what we learn (eg. education), and our relationships. These same aspects are often a factor in our Christian walk as well... but we have something that SHOULD bring us all into the same point of view. It's the Word of God and the cross!
When you begin to look at things from the light of the cross and through the instruction of God's Word, your POV changes.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true as well.
I heard a heartbreaking story yesterday of a fellow minister who has basically left the ministry because their point of view changed! Instead of following the straight and narrow path, they began seeing the enticement of the broad path and before you know it... there weren't very clear absolutes anymore. Sin has a way of watering us down and changing our point of view.
Here's a passage from Jeremiah that spoke to me today:
"Do you not fear and reverence Me? says the Lord. Do you not tremble before Me? I placed the sand for the boundary of the sea, a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass and by an everlasting ordinance beyond which it cannot go? And though the waves of the sea toss and shake themselves, yet they cannot prevail [against the feeble grains of sand which God has ordained by nature to be sufficient for His purpose]; though [the billows] roar, yet they cannot pass over that [barrier]. [Is not such a God to be reverently feared and worshiped?]
But these people have hearts that draw back from God and wills that rebel against Him; they have revolted and quit His service and have gone away [into idolatry].
Nor do they say in their hearts, Let us now reverently fear and worship the Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the autumn and the spring rain in its season, Who reserves and keeps for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Your iniquities have turned these blessings away, and your sins have kept good [harvests] from you."
Jeremiah 4:22-25Our POV is not only how our eyes look at the world and things around us, but our POV also includes what our eyes are fixed on. It's hard to get distracted by sin or fall into satan's snare when you have your eyes fixed on Him!
How does the farmer know how to plow a straight line for planting in his field? He puts a red marker at the end and then drives right toward it.
How does the runner reach the end of the race? They look toward the finish line.
How do we keep following God? We keep our eyes fixed on Him.
And one final nugget from this passage in Jeremiah: If you look at the first part of the Scripture, there is a Spiritual lesson there. We are like the feeble sands of the sea. The waves of sin, trial, and temptation pound upon us, but they will not prevail because God has put a perpetual barrier there against it beyond which the "waves" cannot pass. Even when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord is still Lord and will raise up a standard against it.
I am praying for POV today, especially for those who are in need of a new outlook!God bless!
