Imperfectly Seeing
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. (1 Corinthians 13:12 KJ2)
A Glass Darkly
What does this Scripture mean when it talks about “a glass darkly?” Well, think about it like this.
Have you ever tried to look out on a darkened street from a well-lit room? Unless you get very close to the glass and cup your eyes with your hands, you will only see the reflection of yourself and the lighted room behind you.
It’s the same for this icy lake. The ice’s surface reflects the bright, blue sky. But the lake itself is in darkness. It’s impossible to look beneath the water’s surface to see if any fish swim below.
This is what our vision while living on earth is like.
But when we receive our Heavenly bodies, our flawed earthly eyesight will be gone. We’ll see everything clearly for the first time, including our past life on earth. Our eyesight will be perfect, just like the Trinity’s, but we won’t have their depth of understanding.
After all, as sheep our wisdom and knowledge is pretty limited. That’s why we’ll need the Good Shepherd, even in Heaven (Revelation 7:17 NIV).
The Great White Throne Judgment.
Seated n the Great White Throne, Jesus will judge every person according to their earthly deeds.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. (Revelations 20:13 NIV)
But Jesus expanded on this in Matthew 12. Because what we say is important too. Because our words reveal our heart.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:35-37 NIV)
How many stupid, thoughtless or cruel things have I said in my lifetime? My mind seizes up thinking about it. But take another look at verse 37. Our whole life will be under review. Not just the bad, but the kind deeds we did and the loving words we spoke.
The Ripple Effect
Okay, this is just my opinion.
But maybe standing before Christ, we’ll see the ripple effect. For decades I’ve prayed,
Jesus, use me today, and you don’t have to tell me about it.
Maybe in Heaven I’ll find out the ways Christ answered that prayer. When I was an atheist, the unconscious witness of believing students showed me Jesus’ reality in a way I couldn’t deny. Yet they were just being themselves, shedding light into my darkened world.
The following story illustrates my point.
A Kind Impulse
I read this magazine article years ago and it stuck with me. I’ve assigned new names to the two boys, because I can’t remember their real ones.
But it is a true story.
One day, Tony began walking home from school, carrying a large stack of text books. Bullies knocked the textbooks out of his arms and ran off laughing. Jack, who was in the same grade, stopped and helped him pick the books up. Then he invited Tony home to play video games. Over the next few days Jack introduced Tony to his other pals.
By High School, Jack and Tony were best friends. Tony was at the top of his class, so he gave a speech at graduation. But his story caught the entire audience by surprise. He talked about that day; being bullied, meeting Jack, and playing video games together. But for the first time, Jack heard the hidden story. Because there was a reason Tony carried such a heavy stack of books home.
Tony had decided to kill himself that day.
But he didn’t want his mom to have to clean out his school locker. Jack’s act of kindness short-circuited Tony’s suicidal plans completely.
Who knew an invitation to play video games could save a guy’s life?
My Spiritual Point
If you are a believer, don’t be anxious about standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Yes, we will grieve, but we’ll also be astonished by the quiet miracles God brought about when we did what the Holy Spirit prompted us to do.
We’ll see the true fruit of our words and deeds.
These images came from Pixabay.com.
