A few weeks back, I had filled up my old 86 pickup truck with a load for the dump the night before, and planned to head out when they opened at 7 am, so I could still get to work on time. It was cold that night and the windows had frosted over, yet it was also quite foggy out. After scraping the windows and heading South of town, the fog began getting thicker, and the defrost on the truck was also not working. I was peering out a small space at the bottom of the windshield and along the way I commented ‘this is probably not a good idea.’ I could barely see out the windshield and what I could see was not clear. I nearly missed the sign for the dump turnoff and slid to a gravelly halt, got unloaded and then back on the road. Pulling out on a 4 lane in the fog was probably the most questionable thing, as I hoped others were not speeding and would see me. Fortunately the heater started working and I made it the 6 miles home without incident, but was maybe a bit wiser through the experience. Do you keep pushing forward with things in life, whether or not you can see clearly?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. Psalm 13:3
If I kept driving they way I did that day, I would likely be in an accident sooner than later, but fortunately conditions improved. I am also thankful for the vision that I have to help me see clearly when conditions are not well. I often wonder how others with limited vision are able to do as well as they do. My grandfather had only one eye for most of his life and he was still driving a car into his 90’s. Sometimes we persist despite obstacles before us and continue to push forward. We even have challenges to our faith and continue to persevere. Other times we encounter obstacles and decide to ‘play it safe’ and not risk our health or the lives of our family to move ahead in poor conditions. The key to deciding what to do in any given situation calls for good discernment.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3
The longer we live, the more we realize that we never know what may happen next in life. People we know and love may be here one day and gone the next. Opportunities to have meaningful conversations rarely ‘just happen’ and we eventually lose touch with others. Many things in life do not always go how we plan or expect, but that may also bring about unexpected blessings as well. If you were able to ask God anything and get a definite answer, what would it be? Have you asked? I believe that God may not give us the ability to perfectly see the road ahead of us, because we would then take all the credit for the trip, ignoring Him again. But I believe He often gives us glimpses of what lies ahead, even in the world to come. If you could know when your last day in this life would be, how would it change the way you live now?
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
May you be able to make wise choices even when the road ahead looks clouded or questionable. Seek the guidance of God and his Holy Spirit in day to day decisions and especially in major life decisions and you will be able to hear more clearly from Him as you do. Using the guiding principles God gave us in Scripture does not promise us a trouble free life, but in fact, helps us persevere through these difficulties, even beyond the point of death, to the Kingdom ahead. Take comfort in that as so many have done through centuries before us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
Seeing Clearly in Christ,
Clark
