Cross Eyed
"I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them, you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:36-40
Insight
If you were a teenager in the 90's like me, chances are good you're familiar with the Magic Eye craze. You might have even had a poster Blu-Tacked to your bedroom wall at one time. For those not in the know, these pictures create the visual illusion of a 3D scene from a two-dimensional image. If you stare at all the squiggly and blurry lines long enough, an object will visually rise to the surface.
My friends loved these pictures. Unfortunately, due to my thick glasses and bad astigmatism, all I got from staring were crossed eyes and a migraine. I could never see the image hiding in plain sight.
The same could be said of the religious leaders of Jesus' day. They spent countless hours reading and studying Scripture. They knew the Old Testament inside and out, possessing the ability to recite large swatches at a moment's notice. Yet, for all the time they devoted to searching Scripture, they remained blind - they had eyes but failed to see.
Their downfall was remaining singularly focused on Scripture to enforce legalism and duty, producing a hypocritical faith. Pride and a craving for power prevented them from seeing through the text and recognizing the picture of God's faithfulness, love, and redemption was living amongst them in Jesus Christ. The long-awaited Messiah was with them. Everything they read pointed to Him.
We shouldn’t make the same mistake by seeing Scripture as a road map, instructional book, our life coach, or a place where we go to get our theological bricks to hammer those who don't see the world as we do. To reflect God's heart, we must know God's heart, and the Bible helps us see His heart, character, and ways.
The Bible is a collection of writings demonstrating God's love, pursuit, and promise of redemption. God-breathed and sovereignly preserved, it reveals to us who God is and what He has to say, ultimately pointing us to Jesus Christ as the clearest revelation of God.
We all have a way we approach the Bible, a lens through which we read and interpret it. Most of the time, we read the Bible with questions in mind without considering them since they are so innate and assumed. When we open the Bible, we may easily see what we are already looking for while overlooking what we are afraid of. Our minds instinctively work to eliminate contradictory elements to justify our positions, beliefs, and ourselves.
So, let’s read Scripture for transformation, not simply information, understanding this takes work, time, and each other. God invites us to behold, wonder, and believe. Let’s not get stuck in our faith and our pursuit of God but instead stay curious, training our eyes to see Him in everything.
Reflection
When we come to the Bible to see what God says, we may miss the more critical invitation to see God. How may you approach Scripture for communion rather than just for information and explanation?
Prayer
God, open my eyes to the beauty of Your Word. Help me see how all of it points to the gift of Jesus Christ. I don't have to guess or speculate on Your character because Jesus displayed it in His words, demeanor, actions, and ultimately, on the cross. When I study the Scripture, may I see Your faithfulness, restoration, and redemption. Amen.