Hey all!
The other night, I had the honor and privilege to hang out with one of my cousins. To be honest, we don’t normally hang out – during family events we would say lets do something – but then the ‘busy-ness’ would get in the way. But I don’t want to live like that because relationships are too important! So this month, I plan to make the most of it and cherish the relationships I have at home. If you are one of these people – call or text me and lets hang out! J
Anyways, we had a great conversation. He gave me this image that I want to share with all of you.
I want you to imagine the world as a grand beautiful house with lots of windows. Then imagine God our Father as the outside. Each window is a different view of God. Everyone is walking through this house looking out the windows and seeing God. Some are on one side looking at mountains and cliffs while others are looking out to see a valley with a river. Through all the different windows, we see different aspects of God’s characters, different perspectives of who God is. HE is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. But I think in His infinite wisdom and unconditional love, He speaks to us individually.
The house is too big for us to walk to every window. BUT that’s why we have a body of believers that we fellowship with and learn together. We all have our perspective and stories to share about what God has revealed to us.
One thing my cousin said was that sometimes we get stuck in one room in the house. Maybe we get content with a view of God, or maybe religion, traditions, rules, and fears keep us for walking to other windows. But there is always more to learn about God. And what we know or think we know about God shapes our view of Him. Our view determines what we believe which determines how we live.
GOD IS TOO BIG TO SEE THROUGH ONE WINDOW. In fact, He is so great that every single person on the planet bears His image. That thought alone blows me away – but it showcases His immense GLORY.
So maybe instead of staying in our comfortably decorated room, we venture out to another room with different designs and patterns. There we see another view of Our Creator. Each room is like different cultures and places. People in these rooms have looked out their windows and seen different aspects of God. Our Father is TOO big to be limited by culture. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. One reason I am so excited for the World Race is to gain a deeper understanding of God through other cultures. I look forward to learn how God revealed Himself to non-American cultures. I can’t wait to experience worship with God through a different cultural lens. Our Father delights in differences!
But more, I am asking Jesus to give me His perspective. My ‘P’ word for being on the P-squad is perspective. (which is why I loved this house picture!) I don’t want to stay at the same window, I want to expand my view and enjoy more of God’s abundant glory.
Like all analogies, there are limitations where it can start to break down. But Jesus gave me another picture. So follow me as I expand my cousin’s image:
Jesus came into the house to the room I was stuck in – He knocked on the door. I open it. He takes my hand and leads me through other rooms to the front door. Finally, I am outside. Instead of looking through a glass, I experience and feel the wind through my hair. I feel the texture of the grass and hear the birds. The sun is brighter than I could understand through the window. Now my experience and knowledge is not just ABOUT the outside – I KNOW it, I am IN it. I think the same thing happens when we follow Jesus. Our faith is more than just studying through the window. Jesus invites us to follow Him and then He leads us to a grander view than we could ever get on our own. Instead of the window perspective – Jesus gives us His perspective, which is to be IN the Father and the Father is in Him. (John 14:10-11)
With Jesus holding my hand, I want to lead others to truly KNOW our Father. Maybe that means I go back inside the house and lead them to a window that is 5 feet closer to the door. Maybe it’s just sharing my story. Or maybe it is introducing Jesus. All I know is that my perspective is not Jesus’ perspective.
In fact, my reality may not be Jesus’ reality. Especially when I go back to my own comfortable room and look through that window. So instead, I turn to Jesus and ask, “Jesus, what is your perspective? What is your interpretation?”
Then I let Him lead me outside again and I rest there.
