“Open My Eyes That I May See”
I awoke this morning facing the new year. Oddly enough my thoughts were not on making New Year’s resolutions. My mind was transported back to my childhood. I was remembering the retro toy called Viewmaster. This was a contraption that you put a thin cardboard disk containing a 3D color photograph into so you could view the picture. Some showed travel attractions; others cartoons or TV shows. I vividly remember putting the slide in wrong many times. Of course I could not see clearly or figure out what was before my eyes. I twisted and turned the slide until it fit correctly. I am sure directions were written on the disk, but it was so easy not to follow them or pay attention. Life sometimes seems like this cardboard disk: twist, turns, and being upside down. So the new year rings in, and we all determine to make those resolutions either to do something or to not do something. Resolutions can be profitable, but we usually do not keep them.
I guess the closest thing to the retro Viewmaster in this century might be virtual reality headsets. Let’s view life through the lens of the Word of God. The spiritual lens of this “viewmaster” will be the test for showing me what I need to do this year or what I should leave off. The only reality our lives need is clearly seen in Scripture. 2 Peter 1:3-4 sums up perfectly what my spiritual “viewmaster” disk should look like. “According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who has called us to glory and virtue; Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” When viewing this disk, what should be my spiritual response?
And beside all this, giving all diligence add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge self-control; and to self-control patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are in you and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (vv.5-9)
So this new year I open my eyes and see that it is not about making a New Year’s resolution but giving diligence to the Word of God; by His grace making my calling in the Lord sure; and knowing by His promises I shall never fall. “Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law.” (Psalm 119:18).
Open my eyes, that I may see Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hand the wonderful key, That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee, Ready my God Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
-Clara H. Scott-
Pam Cavanaugh