It is very difficult to be a policeman for many reasons but it is really rough at the scene of a crime or an accident when he has to interview witnesses. Sometimes the testimonies are so divergent and contradictory that you would wonder if some of the people were actually there when the event happened. There times when the person is lying. He got there after the fact, but he wants the officer to accept his opinion or assessment so he says he was there to see it. The poor officer needs the wisdom of Solomon to sort all that out.
Now, there are times when people at different angles can get the basics of an event to agree but different aspects of the event stood out most to them and they emphasize that item. Another person standing on the other side of the street or to the front or rear of the first person may deny that item was there. They appear to be at odds but they are both right.
Sometimes because of emotion or bias they might actually miss something or deny it. Say a person just saw an accident where someone was killed and one of the drivers was drunk. They had someone in their family killed by a drunk driver. They may enhance the event or refuse to reveal data that might show that alcohol may not have been the cause or even that the sober person may have been at fault. Their eyes will see more or less because of that emotional stress. Whereas they might be normally a truthful person they might lie excessively and convincingly. Their eyesight will be blurred by pain and emotion.
We are often deceived by shadow, sleight of hand, or something else and yet we depend upon our sight to make decisions and even demand to see some things before we believe. We even justify our decisions by saying we had insight to the issue or it seemed right as we see it. God has some things to say about whose eyes see best and which ones we should be concerned about.
Judg 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (KJV)
Judg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (KJV)
The nation of Israel during the time of Judges is a mirror image of most of the world today but it is sad that it is thus in the so-called Christian nations of the U.S., Canada and England. Just as Israel should have known their God and understood His ways so also should those nations that have seen so much of the glory of God in their history. The U. S. especially since it was founded upon the Word of God.
Prov 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. (KJV)
We have degenerated to situational ethics determined by the person who is only accountable to his own whims or desires since he is merely a product of chance descended from amino soup and late of the ape family. If counsel is sought it is normally from peers that reject and spurn the aged and any insight they might have into an issue. Mr. Dewey did not invent the method to separate the generations by age groups. Rehoboam was the first to reject wise counsel and lost most of his kingdom because he hearkened to his peers.
Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (KJV)
David was right when he penned these words by inspiration and this truth shall abide forever so we should praise God that we have the opportunity to find Him and His wisdom. Until man starts to see that his eyes are entirely damaged by sin and need Gospel corrective lenses he will live in ignorance and foolishness. To fear God in more than just a respectful awe is when you kick-start your brain cells and activate an ability to achieve wisdom.
Prov 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. (KJV)
We are told that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked above things so what makes us think that such hearts can see anything aright without God. (Jer 7:19) It is wonderful that the word pondereth conveys the idea of balance. Most of our lives we swing back and forth like pendulums often sticking at one end of the swing or the other for long periods and then wildly swinging the other way. Only God can balance us and stabilize us that we might walk a straight path. We stumble in the darkest night until He brings us light and a clear path so that we aren’t swerving to the left and right by every trial or wind of doctrine.
1 Kings 14:1-20
In this passage, King Jeroboam of had a son that was ill. Now Jeroboam was given ten tribes of the kingdom because the lad we talked about before, Rehoboam forsook wise counsel. Jeroboam knew that God gave him those tribes but he switched from looking from God’s perspective to his own. In order to keep the people from going to Jerusalem to worship and maybe think about going back to Rehoboam he instituted a false religion. Moses destroyed one golden calf when he came down from getting the Ten Commandments. Jeroboam should have known this but yet he set up two calves.
Because of this God was going to bring judgment on the king and the ten tribes. This is what caused the boy’s illness. Jeroboam, still blind in his own reasoning, sent his wife in disguise to the prophet that had anointed him king to find out if the child would live. Now, think of that! You are going to try and fool the prophet? Maybe his eyes would not recognize the queen for maybe he never saw her but God knew who she was and heard the plot and watched her disguise herself. His eyes see everything. Would God allow this ruse to succeed? In Jeroboam’s eyes it was a good plan but he was about to see how wrong he was.
God told Abijah the prophet what to expect. When she arrived he did not get in her case for she was only being an obedient wife and a concerned mother but he blew her cover immediately. Her face was most likely covered but she must have been shocked when he recognized her. He told her what she came to hear but not what she really wanted to hear. He told her the child would die and her husband dethroned.
7 Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,
8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;
9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.
11 Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.
12 Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.
13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam
Now in this decree we see something else that in our eyes seems wrong or inconsistent. God says that the child is going to die because there was something good in him. Now we see clearly why Jeroboam and others had to die. They were wicked and rejected God and His ways. But if the kid is innocent and has some good in him why is he dying? He dies innocent and in honor to escape the curse. The others are going to be eaten by dogs and birds and there bones will be buried in unmarked graves with no one to mourn them. This child will have a memorial and be honored. Besides that he goes to glory so death here is not a bad thing. It is an act of honor, grace, and mercy in God’s eyes.
Can you see what we must look through God’s eyes? We misread a lot of things in this life by using our insight instead of His. We must look up! His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than ours thus we must use the binoculars of the Word that are adjusted by the Spirit if we are to ever see anything aright. (Isa 55:9)
We cannot look through the eyes of our culture, our education, our genealogy, or anything else. Paul counted all those things as manure and tossed them. (Php 3:8) We have been given the mind of Christ and through it we must see as He sees.
Brethren, too many times in our life we are near sighted and only see what is affecting us now. We see our circumstances and forget who is in charge of those and who is working all things together for out good. Sometimes we are blind and we do not act like children of God causing us to stumble and fall into sin because we cannot see afar off. (2 Pet 1:4-10) Other times we are farsighted seeing only our goals and desires and neglecting the things and people we should be caring for now. Brethren, come to Jesus and let Him correct you sight to John 20:20 vision where you see your risen Lord and rejoice!
Unbelieving friend, you are blind and blinded by the god of this world. (2 Cor 4:4) But you can come to Jesus who will heal you and like the man that was blinded from birth you too can say, “…whereas I was blind, but now I see”. Your choice is easy. You can come to the light of Jesus now and have your sins forgiven or keep them and stay in darkness here and in Hell forever. (John 3:16-21) Why stay in the dark? It is beautiful in the Light.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (KJV)
How’s your eyesight? Are you blind, nearsighted, farsighted, or maybe cross-eyed? Why not come to the great Physician who can cure all those conditions. In whose eyes are you seeking to be right? They better be His for all others will fail you! Come to the Light and see that it is good! Maranatha!
