Directional Vision

Faith can be defined as looking up to God. But sometimes we let our limited knowledge of him influence our expectations.

The truth is that God is bigger than we could ever imagine; more loving and kind that we could ever perceive. Nancy Spielberg and Dorothy Purdy wrote a poem entitled “If I Had Only Known You.”

Lord, I crawled across the barrenness to You with my empty cup

uncertain in asking any small drop of refreshment.

IF only I had known You better,

I’d have come running with a bucket.”

Today’s sermon is about faith, specifically, our “Directional Vision,” in life. It instructs us that we ought to look to God in all things and learn to wait on Him, in faith. It teaches us where to look, how to look, and who looks. First, let’s get a clearer picture of faith by learning...

Where to look

As Christians, we must look to God. And not look to other sources for help or strength. For in doing so, we commit the sin of idolatry. “I lift up my eyes.” That is a sight of faith. Many places in the Bible “looking up to God.” Places like Psalm 25:15 “My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.” Or Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!” Lifting up one’s eyes to God is a metaphor for faith.

And the Bible acknowledges the place of God’s habitation. “...whose throne is heaven.” Heaven is where God lives. God is omnipresent, but His throne is in heaven. This is a label of sovereignty; His ultimate rule. Psalm 115:3 “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Much can be said about where God is. Psalm 2:4 (ESV): “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”

What’s more is that we recite in the Apostle’s Creed that Jesus is be seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. Again, this is a place of sovereignty and rule, and a claim to Jesus’ divinity. Having completed the work of redemption for His people, Jesus ascended into heaven and sat down at the Father’s right hand. It is also a place of help. It implies the presence of the Spirit here on earth with us.

John Calvin wrote:

“This means, first of all, that he is established, and declared to be King, Master and Lord over all things in order to keep and sustain us by his power, so that his reign and glory might be our strength, power and glory against the powers of hell.

Secondly, this means that he received all the graces of the Holy Spirit in order to distribute them to those who are faithful to him, and to enrich them with them. Hence, although his body has been taken up to heaven and is no longer here for us to see, yet he does not cease to support his faithful ones with his help and power and to show to them the evident force of his presence, according to his promise, ‘See, I am with you every day until the end of the world.’” (John Calvin, Truth for All Time, 74).

We are never alone or neglected. We have the assurance that He is with us. Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

“...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And so we can look to God with confidence. But our passage also addresses...

How to look

Servants and maids wait with baited breath, to get the signal from their master. They are waiting. Waiting is not fun, but it is a part of faith. We relate to God in humility, submission and expectation.

We are joyful servants. Paul often referred to himself as a slave or a servant of Christ. Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi… .” We are joyful servants. Paul often referred to himself as a slave or a servant of Christ. Philippians 1:12-13

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” “ I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel… .”

Ephesians 3:1 “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—”

The Quest Study Bible states:

“In one sense, we are like slaves before the master in our relationship to God. God has power over all things and we are ultimately dependent on God for everything. So it is fitting that we relate to God in humility and submission. However, we shouldn’t assume the negative and abusive aspects of slavery in this analogy. God is a loving and kind master, one who is a joy to serve.” (The Quest Study Bible, New International Version (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003) 878.)

But notice how God looks at us. Verse two says: “Till He shows us mercy… .” The New American Standard says: “Until He shall be gracious to us.”

The word for mercy is...

(ḥānan). vb. to be gracious, generous to. Denotes a positive action or disposition of grace and generosity toward someone.

This verb is used of someone acting toward someone else in a way that results in favorable circumstances. At times, as in Judg 21:22, it is used of one person or a group of people showing favor or mercy upon another. Most often, however, it is used of God showing grace toward a person or persons (e.g., 2 Kgs 13:23). Often it is used when individuals entreat Yahweh to show favor (ḥānan) upon them (e.g., Psa 4:2). It is used alongside other terms related to the concept of blessing in the Aaronic blessing of Num 6:24–26. (Joshua G. Mathews, “Blessing,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014)).

Every day, God shows you mercy. The bad things that have occurred have only occurred because you live in a fallen world. And, many times they could have turned out much worse. But the Lord has given you good things to satisfy your needs.

Who Looks

Exodus 21:5–6 ESV

5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

This is not an endorsement for slavery, especially not the type of the late 19th century in the United States. Romans 6:22: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.”

So if you are happy serve as one of God’s servants, this will put the rest of your life in perspective.

Verses three and four is an expression of contempt from their enemies. The Jewish people have always suffered national contempt. They were hated by the Philistines, the Assyrians and the Babylonians. In Egypt after the days of Joseph, the Egyptians treated the Hebrews hatefully.

Jewish people have always dealt with contempt. They’ve been a hated people.

Christians often suffer ridicule from the outside world. I was recently in the barber shop in my hometown. And the barber was expressing her faith to another individual and the man seated next to me looked over at me with a condescending smile as if to chuckle at her statements. As if to say, “I know better. This is ridiculous.”

On movies, Christians are often seen as dumb or out of touch. Business owners are bashed because they hold convictions about their product and who they will work for or accommodate.

What do you do with this information? First, I think it speaks to a position of discipleship. As God’s servants and people, we look expectantly to Him for guidance in your lives. We do not look to ourselves. God does not conform to us. Rather, we conform to God. Don’t forget, Jesus said: “Follow Me.”

Secondly, it puts you in a position of prayer. Prayer is looking up to God and waiting expectantly for Him. “Lord, what do you want me to do?” “Lord, what is Your plan for me?” Your prayers ought to be open-ended requests for God’s leadership in your life. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Also, this “looking to God,” puts you in a position to receive answers to many things.

The answer to loneliness; Deuteronomy 31:8 “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””

The answer to anxiety; Philippians 4:6-7 “...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

It was George Müller who said: “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” (George Müller, Signs of the Times.)

The answer to despair; Psalm 118:6-7

Psalm 118:6–7 ESV

6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

The answer to uncertainty. 1 Kings 3:7

1 Kings 3:7 ESV

7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.

CONCLUSION

Juan Valera, a Spanish politician, and is probably Spain’s most prized author, said: “Faith in an all-seeing and personal God, elevates the soul, purifies the emotions, sustains human dignity, and lends poetry, nobility, and holiness to the commonest state, condition and manner of life.”

And so if there’s anything to remember, Psalm 123:2

Psalm 123:2 (ESV)

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants

look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maidservant

to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God,

till he has mercy upon us.

Pamela Reeve said: “Faith is engaging in the deepest joy of heaven, knowing His unfathomable love for me as I walk through the thorny desolate now.” (Pamela Reeve, Faith Is).

During Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s eight years in Russian camps, his parents died and his wife divorced him. Upon his release from prison he was dying of a cancer that was growing in him so rapidly that he could feel the difference in a span of twelve hours. It was at that point that he abandoned himself to God, so beautifully illustrated in three lines of the incredible prayer that came in that dark hour: “Oh God, how easy it is for me to believe in You. You created a path for me through despair… O God, You have used me, and where You cannot use me, You have appointed others. Thank You.” (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich).