“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1Cor. 13:12) At best, we have partial vision. Because of the fall of man, each of us is born into sin, and this affects our ability to see things accurately and clearly.
Satan attacks us and distorts our vision of life and eternity. He makes young people believe they will never get old, and he prompts those running headlong into the depths of sin to never consider their ways. He is the ultimate procrastinator. And through those tactics, Satan deceives men and women concerning the destruction and their pending judgment before God. He is the master of blinding man’s vision.
Several years ago, I took my youngest son, Joel, to Columbus, MS. We took part in a kayak river fishing event with friends from all over Mississippi and Louisiana. It was a two-day event; therefore, it involved camping out. As we gathered to eat and sit around a large campfire, everyone was telling and listening to funny stories. Then, one of the boys from West Point told this story.
One turkey season, an elderly gentleman entered a rich section of woods where he knew there were some gobblers present. He sat down and waited for daylight to begin. As the sun raced through and awakened the woods, the man gave out a hen yelp with his caller. This man was not experienced with turkey hunting, but he thought he would give it a try. How hard could it be? Following the instructions he had been given at the local sporting goods store, he sat and waited. Suddenly, he saw one of these elusive birds walking toward him. His eyes grew wide as he saw the largest turkey he had ever imagined. He took aim and brought the bird down.
After, dragging the prize turkey to his pickup, he drove to the sporting goods store to show off his success. He walked in with a puffed-out chest and said, “Fellas, I have just bagged the world’s largest turkey.” The local men in the store said, “Sure you have?” He invited them out to his truck and the men followed to see if his claim was true.
The man pointed to the bird laying dead in the back of the truck and said, “There he is boys!” The men looked at the elderly gentleman and burst out laughing. “What is so funny?” he asked. They brought to his attention that the bird was a wild Emu! When the value of these ostrich-looking birds plummeted, many of them were released from local farms and roamed freely throughout the woods.
Like this old man, we don’t always see things clearly. We have a tendency to see God as too small to help us and Satan as too large to overcome. Our vision betrays us and turns us into fools. We need God’s Word and the Holy Spirit t to… See Things Clearly!
