And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes. 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
There is seeing, and then there is seeing that goes deeper than the surface. It is hard to see things as they really are because of our lack of insight or preconceived notions. Elisha’s servant could see things in the natural realm, to a greater reality. We need God to open our eyes to the realities beyond the visible. Without eyes that see beyond the natural, we will have limited effectiveness in the kingdom.
Some people have a gift to be able to see possibilities that elude others. Some people utilize the capability to see beyond the degradation and decay and envision restoration in the natural realm. For example, if I were to see a dilapidated, old house, I would probably be inclined to conclude that we should tear it down and start all over again. Conversely, Chip and Joanna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” fame could see the same house and envision the possibilities of what it might become. To appreciate the potential of a project, we must understand the original design and intent.
Great Possibilities
We might be guilty of the little envy toward those who can not only see beyond the surface of an old house or car but have the determination and skills to bring the vision into reality. Success in these projects does not happen by accident or by luck. It takes work and study and a mental or actual image of the original.
As those called by God, our primary vocation is not about restoring houses or cars. It is about the restoration and reconciliation of people. The lens through which we see humanity can determine our enthusiasm for renewal. Is our baseline after Creation or after The Fall?
Unfortunately, in many Christian circles, the starting point seems to be Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve sinned, and as a result, they damaged their relationship with God. Theologically speaking, beginning the “doctrine of man” frames the baseline as a flawed, broken prototype. Terms such as “total depravity” and “original sin” are prevalent in much of the conversation surrounding humanity.
The Baseline Is Perfection
So God created human beings in his own image. Genesis 1:27 (NLT)
Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Genesis 1:31 (NLT)
For car restoration enthusiasts, do you think it would be greater excitement over discovering a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette with the split rear window or a 1971 Ford Pinto? I do not think there would be much debate. For the sake of our illustration, the Corvette represents creation before the fall, and the Pinto is what happened when sin entered the world.
To sustain a prolonged ministry that is effective in transforming lives, we must correctly perceive that beneath the damage caused by sin, each person is born bearing the image of God. If we fail to understand this, it will inevitably lead to discouragement and disappointment.
In 2000, George W. Bush was campaigning for president. In a speech before the NAACP, he said, “And I will confront another form of bias: the soft bigotry of low expectations.” If we view fallen humanity as existing without bearing God’s image, it will affect our opinions and interactions.
John Calvin was inconsistent as to whether or not “remnants” of God’s image remained in humanity after the fall. In the Institutes, Calvin said, “…the Divine image in him[humanity] was obliterated [1] .” This viewpoint is contrary to what we see in Scripture ( 1 Corinthians 11:7, James 3:9). Additionally, when we begin to see God’s image in each person we encounter, even if it is hard to detect, it will go a long way to heal divisions, prejudices, and even racism. Yes, sin damaged or marred the image of God in all of us, but it is still there if we look hard enough. Let us raise our expectations.
See the Way Jesus Sees
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44 (NIV)
Frequently this parable is interpreted from the viewpoint that Jesus is the treasure hidden in the field. When we discover Jesus, we esteem him to be of such great value that we are willing to give up everything we have to acquire him.
There is no dispute that that is a likely explanation, but consider the possibility that God considers us a treasure? He did, after all, pay the ultimate price to purchase our redemption. We may found buried in the dirt and muck of our field with little apparent value, but we are stamped with his image and with joy Jesus bought us at a high cost.
Going one step further, because we are his ambassadors, his representatives here on earth, we have the privilege of acting on his behalf. As we recognize that God created humanity in his image, we must engage actively in “the ministry of reconciliation.” This work may seem costly until we acknowledge that everything that we have comes from God. We must also not forget what he did for us!
Seeing Hidden Treasures
Finding hidden treasure can be hard work. Often, these gems are disguised and even broken. However, if we have eyes that are open to see beyond surface appearances, seeing one of God’s masterpieces should strengthen our resolve to seek restoration.
Finally, it is my prayer that we will see with supernatural vision. With natural eyesight, we do not see the complete picture. Elisha’s servant only saw one dimension, and so he was in despair. Spiritually open eyes will not only be perceptive to hidden treasure, but open eyes will also see the resources available to us to accomplish our mission.
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT)
Steve Ekeroth
Photo by Mike Yakaites from Pexels
[1] John Calvin and John Allen, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 1 (New-Haven; Philadelphia: Hezekiah Howe; Philip H. Nicklin, 1816), 262.
