The Seen and the Unseen
You can see evidence of God every day of your life if you have eyes to see.
“Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders...During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
Deuteronomy 29:2-6, 9-10, 18-19, 29
Do you ever wonder why Moses had to call people together and remind them of all that God has done? Do you think it is because everything was going well and the people were obedient? More likely, like sheep we tend to wander and our faith can fade even though God has not changed. It does not seem like much of a stretch to imagine that Moses was speaking to the doubts, anxieties, and fears that had arisen in the hearts of the people as they faced the uncertainty and pressure of life.
Have you ever taken time to think about why God gave you each of your senses? Was it simply so you can survive or is it possible that each sense can help you experience God in a different way? The bible has many verses about inviting people to have eyes that see. There seems to be a difference between looking and seeing. Have you ever noticed how if someone talks about a red car, you will seem to be more aware of the red cars that are all around you. There is something about connecting our minds, hearts, and senses that help us understand what we are seeing.
Where are you seeing God move in your life? Where have you seen him move in the past? Moses says that if you take the time to look back over your life you will see and understand that it was not an accident that you made it through hard times. The events of your life all point to a God who is present and personally cares for you.
One truth emerges in this text that can help when you have times where you do not see or understand where God is. Deuteronomy 29:29 says the secret things belong to the Lord, the revealed things to us. This verse can help you when you get to a place where you don't see how things will work out or why things happened. Anyone who has ever wrestled with the question of why bad things happen to faithful people might need to get a place where their faith meets the truth that there are going to be some secrets that are not revealed this side of heaven.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.”
Psalms 32:1-2, 8-10
God wants to give you freedom to be who you are made to be and for you to hold fast to the promise that you are never alone. He says I see you. I know you. My loving eye is always on you. You do not have to pretend to be anything other than who you are with God. He sees your heart and can read your mind. The enemy of your life wants to take this truth and twist it so that you feel shame or guilt when you fall short. God wants you to be free and find the perfect love that overcomes fear. How does knowing you are seen help you let go anything that is not helping you feel free?
David sings praise for covering his sins. He says blessed is the one whose sin is not counted against them. He is saying that you should experience a life of joy because of the gratitude you experience in your heart. He says that you know the penalty you should have to pay and you see that God paid the bill. David helped other people see God because of how he praised God for how he set him free. What do people see when they see you?
“Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father...The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both. Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.”
Proverbs 29:1, 3, 7, 13, 17-18, 20, 22, 26
Solomon loves to set things straight and make sure everyone see the truth. Wisdom says that God sees it all. You cannot buy your way out of the watchful eye of God if you are doing wrong, nor can you ever find yourself in a place beyond the eye that sees what you need. God sees it all and will respond with what you need. The phrase Solomon uses implies both that God sees all people and has also given all people the ability to see the truth about their choices. Can you see where your words, actions, and attitude are in alignment with God? How about any ways that are not?
What advice does Solomon have knowing that God sees? He says look beyond yourself. The wisdom of Solomon always reminds his audience that life is not just about you. He says the people who do what God sees and says are right will help the poor, discipline their children, listen to God's instructions, and avoid people who are emotionally reactive. Why do you think Solomon shares all this? Wisdom has taught him that we all have influence and the actions that others see point directly to the God we serve either in ways that give Him glory or do not.
“In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Those who are violent among your own people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without success. Then the king of the North will come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time."
Daniel 11:14-15, 17, 19, 27, 32, 35-36, 45
Daniel has a vision and sees what is to come. It is not a pretty sight, but it is also not a surprise. We live in a broken world with broken leaders who do not fully serve God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. Many people, particularly those in power, seem to work most for the ways that they can see themselves get more power, wealth, or possessions. Daniel describes one king who acts corruptly against another king. You could look back over history and have a hard time differentiating which time period Daniel is describing because corruption is so common amongst historical leaders around the globe.
Let's not miss the bigger picture here which is that there is only one true king who sees and acts justly. His kingdom will never end and He will be victorious. How often do we let the events of the world, the news or social media stories impact our hearts. Our focus can zoom into what earthly leaders are doing. One best practice is to let our perspectives look beyond what is happening in conflict around the globe and trust that God has a plan. Daniel says the time of end will come at the appointed time. This might be another Deuteronomy 29:29 type of moment, but the point is when you don't see how the world will turn to Jesus, that does not mean that God has any less of an effective plan. The secret things belong to the Lord.
"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction."
1 Thessalonians 1:3-6, 9-10
Paul praises the people in Thessalonica for how their faith in Christ can be seen by others. Is this not the measure that should be applied to our own lives? How is our faith expressing itself in love to others? How has the transformation we have experienced blossomed into something tangible that helps transform other lives around us. Paul says your work produced by faith, your labor by love, and your endurance inspired by hope can be seen by the power that Holy Spirit is flowing through you.
We all have influence. What would happen if everyone who did not believe in Jesus saw that the people who follow Jesus displayed the power of the Holy Spirit? What if we did not just say that we believe in Jesus, but our empowered lives could be evidence of how God is alive and active? The people in Thessalonica showed it by what they did and how they did it. What fruit is your life producing today? How will what other people see in you demonstrate the power of God's love?
Paul says you have been chosen. You are called. You are equipped. God also says you won't always understand what you see or don't see. God has secrets. Faith inspired by hope responding to Christ's love will be enough to help you see how you can make a difference. Do for the one person in front of you, the person you can see, what you wish you could do for everyone. How do you show love to a God you cannot see? By loving the people in front of you that you can.