Blurred Vision

Yesterday morning, my wife and I had an interesting experience. As is always the case, one of the first things I do every morning is insert my contact lens in my right eye. I have an implant in my left eye which I use for up close vision and reading. Within seconds the sight in right eye was blurred. This led me to think I had dropped my contact on the table or floor in front of me. So the frantic search with a flashlight began. No contact. I then went to retrieve an old backup contact that I keep in my case. In so doing, the vision in my right eye became even more blurred. Guess what? I put the second contact on top of the one I thought I had lost. Well, part of the situation was “cleared up,” but my vision was still blurry. Thinking the contact was not positioned right on my eye, I went on about my morning thinking the situation would correct itself. I must add that since I had a detached retina in my left eye two years ago, I began to wonder if something was beginning to happen to my other eye.

Unbeknownst to me, Denise had by this time put in her contacts. After a moment she entered the dining room where I was working and declared that her vision was blurry, too! She left and then returned moments later asking, “Did you take a contact out of a case with two contacts?” Immediately the mystery of our impaired vision was solved! We both have the same color contact cases, so in my fumbling, bumbling early morning stagger, I had picked up her case and inserted her contact in my right eye. What a delight to be able to see clearly now that our vision has been corrected.

How will you see life in 2015? Through the “contact lens” of human viewpoint or divine viewpoint? Human viewpoint perceives life from a fleshly, selfish, worldly paradigm that convinces and/or assumes “I am right” (Proverbs 14:12). Divine viewpoint perceives life from a biblical, humble, Christlike paradigm that says, “God is always right” (Psalm 18:30). Human viewpoint comes when we fill our minds with worldly thinking, reading and entertainment (Romans 12:1-2). Divine viewpoint comes when we fill our minds with Truth (Philippians 4:8). Human viewpoint has “How does this make me feel, or what will make me happy” as its motivation. Divine viewpoint says, “How will this glorify God or make me grow in Christ or cause me to praise my God” as its goal (Psalm 150:6; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Peter 3:18). Human viewpoint will leave you frustrated, empty, never satisfied and bored (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18). Divine viewpoint leads you to rest, fulfillment, contentment, and joy (Philippians 4:6-11; Hebrews 3:7-19). Human viewpoint comes from “following your heart” (Jeremiah 17:9); divine viewpoint is developed by a life saturated by the Word (Psalm 119). Human viewpoint lives for now; divine viewpoint lives for eternity (Philippians 1:21).

As you move into 2015, will your life be blurred with selfish human viewpoint or clear with Christ-exalted divine viewpoint? Which contact case will you use?