Vision (noun): the act or power of seeing; something seen in a dream especially as part of a supernatural experience; a lovely or charming sight; a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial; the act or power of imagination; unusual discernment or foresight
Have you ever wished you could see the world through God’s eyes?
A few years ago, that wish came true for me. One night, as I rested in the comfort of my usual humanly dreams, God blessed me with His glorious presence. This ethereal visit provided both uncommon peace and immeasurable exhilaration. God raised me up to the top of a mountain, or perhaps a cloud, or dare I say, even to the Heavens, so that I could look upon the world from a new perspective – His. My attention was directed to the landscape below, and at that very moment, the amazingly, wonderful, God-breathed colors of the world burst into life before me. The sight took my breath away and left me spinning slowly in a speechless state of wonder.
Dreams are a challenge to explain. The closest analogy I can offer is from the movie, “The Wizard of Oz”. Remember that moment when Dorothy (Judy Garland) steps out of her house and into the Land of Oz? That instant where the screen goes from black and white to one of vivid colors and energetic life? Take the contrast of that scene and multiply it a hundredfold – that describes the awe I felt standing beside the Creator, viewing His creation through His eyes.
The tendrils of wonder clung to my pillow as I awoke from this dream a changed person. I felt the transformation deep within my soul – I would never see the world in the same way again. Ever since that night, I have often gazed upon the world – the places I visit, the faces I see – and try to recapture the images from my dream, to see it all through His eyes. I might be buying a cup of coffee or sitting in a church pew and be struck with an image or thought: “This isn’t just a faceless person serving my coffee; this is a precious child of God – indeed my sister or my brother.” “This isn’t just a place for me to worship on Sunday; this is a sanctuary where all sinners can find hope and forgiveness.”
Sometime later after this dream, I traveled to Las Vegas on a business trip. I had been there a few times before, and honestly, was not thrilled about my return. I had been drawn into the societal view of this place being nothing more than a “Sin City”. As I walked the crowded, bustling, infamous Las Vegas strip, I was compelled to look deeper, closer, and further into the corners of the alleys and the wrinkles on the faces of strangers. The best and the worst parts of humanity collided under a multitude of bright spotlights, and temptation lived openly among the people. In the bars and casinos, people numbed themselves from the pain of loneliness, the sorrow of grief, or the shame of abuse.
Yet God’s whisper encouraged me to look beyond the darkness and the stereotypes. Surprisingly, the remarkable colors of the world revealed themselves once again. The warmth of the desert sun, the waving branches of the palms, the creatively constructed buildings, and the artful expressions of the stage performers all radiated different hues of this city’s color palette. The sin that resides in Las Vegas certainly resides in other places…just as the beauty of God’s creation resides in all places.
I am so grateful to God for helping me see the world through His eyes. For in these precious moments, I clearly realize how the world rests safely in His loving and merciful hands. He perceives the true awesomeness of the world, both as He intended it to be and as the potential it has yet to become.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13