The Bible frequently instructs us to Look or to See things. The word ‘Behold’, meaning to see and observe something, is common in the Bible.
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it will spring forth” Isaiah 43:19
“Behold all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Behold I stand at the door and knock” Revelation 3:20
Often when people are burdened or feeling low they look down. That’s called the ‘downcast’ look because the eyes are lowered.
“For troubles without number surround me; my iniquities have taken hold on me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head.” Psalm 40:12
God’s word prompts us to ‘Look Up’, as in abandoning our downcast feelings and looking to God for what He will do.
“When all these things begin to take place, look up, and lift up your heads, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:28
“Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, Look up and see what is appearing.” Zechariah 5:5
There is no prize for sticking our head in the sand. Failing to see what is happening is no help to us. The blind fall into a pit. So we are challenged by God to keep our eyes open and to look around. This is not just a natural wisdom, but a powerful spiritual process too.
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” Proverbs 22:3
Prophets in the Old Testament were at times called ‘Seers’, because they could see into heavenly things.
“Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, Come, let us go to the seer, for today’s prophet was formerly called a seer.” 1Samuel 9:9
They could see and understand what was happening outside the natural realm, and so could help people understand what was going on for them.
In New Testament times all Christians can be aware of spiritual reality. We have a relationship with God and are led by the Holy Spirit Who lives inside us, so we are able to ‘see’ and assess things clearly.
“The person with the Holy Spirit discerns all things” 1Corinthians 2:15
However, we cannot see or assess anything if we are not looking. If you have closed your eyes and stopped paying attention, then it doesn’t matter how good your eyesight is.
There are many things you need to ‘Behold’. There are things you should keep your eyes on. It is good for you to be ever ready to Lift Up Your Eyes and see the important things in your life.
If you were a shepherd in Bible times, caring for sheep on a hillside, you would need to scan the flock from time to time. You would become good at recognising the sheep and you’d be aware of where they are and what they are doing. You would notice if one is missing. You would be sensitive to whether they seemed alarmed. You would also scan wider to see if there were any predators or dangers coming.
“Pay close attention to the state of your flocks, and look carefully to your herds.” Proverbs 27:23
The Apostle Paul challenged the church leaders to do the same thing.
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” Acts 20:28
If you were out on the bay in a small boat you would keep an eye on the water and on the sky. You would be foolish to fall asleep and let the boat drift.
“In the morning you say, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening. You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:3
The Bible tells you to keep watch or keep guard over your heart. You need to ensure your heart is clean and directed toward God. You need to be sure you haven’t reacted badly to others or allowed wrong attitudes to form.
The Bible also tells us to look to the Lord and see what He is doing. We are to be aware of the spiritual season, or time in which we live. That means we are to understand and accept the spiritual things which cannot be seen with natural eyes. We see that we are made new and seated with Christ in Heavenly Places.
“God raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:6
We accept and ‘see’ all the things God’s Word says about us. We see that our sins are forgiven and that we are God’s sons. We see that we are a kingdom of priests and victorious over the devil.
At the same time we also keep looking to the Lord. The psalms gives us a picture of someone who is in need of help. They look to the hills surrounding them, which is where their help will have to arrive from. But then the question is asked, “Where does my help actually come from?” And the answer is, it comes from the Lord.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1,2
The help may have to come across the hills, but whether it is by camel train, a fossicker or a search party, it actually comes from the Lord. So we look, but we actually look to the Lord, not to man.
“I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.” Psalm 123:1
Keep your eyes open. Look to the Lord and all the things He has done, even if they can’t be seen by natural eyes. In all your situations, because God is the source of all the help you need, Lift Up Your Eyes to the Lord.
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