“Come up here, and I will show you…” (Rev. 4:1)
Lord Jesus, sometimes all we need is the right perspective—to see things from the vantage point you enjoy. You see the entire history of redemption, saga of grace, and fullness of hope simultaneously. But we experience life from a very limited, skewed, myopic perspective. We don’t think the earth is flat, but sometimes it does feel like it’s a giant field of crabgrass, kudzu, poison ivy, and ragweed.
Without seeing what you see and knowing what you know Jesus, we get lost in the “weeds” of invasive plants, and the misery they create. We have no clue (or forget) we’re actually living among huge redwoods of grace, surrounded by mountains of mercy, while rivers of providence are steadily moving history and us closer and closer to the “new heaven and new earth” (Rev. 21:1-22:6).
The Apostle Paul lived with this heavenly, hope-kissed, history-is-Yours perspective… and he quickly returned to it when the weeds felt taller than the redwoods. I love his perspective, and I want his heart. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us later… We groan inwardly and as we wait eagerly… we wait for it patiently.” (Rom.8:18-25).
Jesus, I’m better at inward groaning than patient waiting. Help me, and my praying friends. Every day—no exceptions, you say to us, “Come up here in the Gospel and the pages of the Scriptures… come up here where the throne is occupied and the peace is palpable… come up here and I will show you. I will show you more of me, the expiration date of all “weeds,” and the future I’ve won for you.” So Very Amen.