Eyes to SeeSample

Something in us craves a happy ending. We want to hear the minor chords resolve. We are surprised by death and suffering, even when we should be used to it. Something deep inside us whispers that this is not how it should be.

The glorious good news is that a happy ending is on its way. We only see it now because the world still has trouble, pain, and poverty. We are still broken and poor—all of us—but Jesus has died on the cross, resurrected, and overcome the world. Like the shepherd searching for the one lost sheep or the woman turning her house upside down to find a lost coin, Jesus is finding the lost. He is restoring them with great rejoicing and putting right all that is wrong with the world.

He invites us, His beloved Bride, the Church, to join Him on His journey of restoration—and in so doing, He restores our brokenness along the way. We can rejoice with Him on the way, too, when we see signs of the Kingdom rising up like fresh green shoots in the spring. God says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19).

But we’re not there yet. We live in a tension between what is and what will be. We see clear signs of hope that God is restoring all things to Himself. We also clearly see the Fall's damage in this broken world. But we can rejoice because we know that God is not finished yet. There will come a day when the picture given to us in the book of Revelation will come true:

A time will come when God will wipe every tear from our eyes and do away with the suffering of our world. We wait in great anticipation of that day. And until that time, God invites us to be part of this restoration of the world, to bring the beauty of the gospel to others, to celebrate the signs of His

Kingdom as relationships are restored and to bring Him glory.

Let’s join Him in seeing what He sees, loving what He loves and bringing His hope to this world.

Reflect:

• In Revelation 21:5, God says, “I am making everything new.” How has He made you new?
• How is God equipping you to join Him in restoring His Kingdom in this world?

Pray:

Lord, thank You that a day will come when You will wipe away every tear. We wait in eager anticipation of that day. Until then, I offer myself to You as Your servant. Please give me eyes to see what You see. Heal my heart so that I can respond as You would. Please use me to bring Your hope and healing to this world. Amen.