This past Sunday, in our Women in the Word Life Connections class, one of verses that we talked about was 1 Corinthians 13:12,
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." We talked about this verse and what it really means for us. Then this morning, God once again gave me a very visual illustration (since He made me a visual learner!) of how this verse applies to ME. As I've talked about in previous blogs, we have a bird feeder in our back yard. And might I say that it is Grand Central Station for the birds of St. Marys most of the time. In fact, we have to fill the feeder EVERY DAY. I'm thinking that pretty soon we'll have to make a decision...do the birds eat or do WE eat. Anyway...I love to watch the birds. I sometimes sit in our swing in the back yard for hours just watching the birds come and go. They are beautiful and very unique...in their appearance, in their choice of seeds, in their chirping, in their tolerance for being watched. While I'm sitting outside in the swing, there's nothing to obstruct my view of the birds. But this morning as I was looking at the birds (and squirrels) out my dining room window I made a terrible discovery...my windows are very dirty! As I looked through my dirty window I realized that the beautiful birds, each with their unique qualities, looked blurred and distorted. They were no longer clear and distinct in their appearance. Oh, I could still see them...sort of. But I could no longer make out the subtle little differences that singled out each beautiful bird. Suddenly God reminded me of 1 Cor. 13:12
..."we see through a glass darkly..." In our fleshly bodies, we're looking through "dirty windows." We can't clearly see the plan and purpose of God for our lives. We can't clearly understand why God allows some things to happen. We can't fully understand why someone we love is taken from us....or why we're suddenly faced with a terminal illness.
Why can't God see things the way I see it!! Dear friend...God
DOES see it the way you see it...but He sees
SO MUCH MORE. He sees the
beginning AND the
end. He alone knows the plan and purpose He has for your life and the lives of those you love. And He is directing the steps of every believer and leading us on the path of that plan and purpose. Right now we see through "dirty windows." But, thank God, 1 Cor. 13:12 doesn't stop there! The rest of the verse says "...
but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." In that day...the great "
then"...when I see my Lord and Savior face to face,
I SHALL KNOW. Then...I will understand.
Then...I will see clearly.
Then...my windows will be all sparkling clean!
I don't think it can be said any more clearly than from
The Message:We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! What a day that will be! But till then...I think I need to wash my windows!
