The Underlook

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV)

As a person of diminutive stature, I have found that I don't tend to overlook things, I underlook them, for I am not looking high enough. At home, I have to remind myself to fetch the stool and check the tops of things like the fridge and the cabinets, picture frames and blinds. In the hardware store where I work, I must endeavour to look up at all the shelves and hooks, or else I miss what the customer is seeking to purchase. As the old saying goes, Out of sight, out of mind. Too often, we notice only what we see.

Likewise within our Christian walk, it can be easy for me, for us, to focus on what is directly in front of us: the crisis in Europe, the Middle East unease, world-wide natural disasters, the disease riddling our bodies, relational problems, financial worries, the leaky sink, the rebellious child, and the list goes on and on for each and every one of us.

And yet, God seeks gently and continually to remind us through His Word that we must look higher; we must not underlook His greater plan, for faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

We cannot see the future; we cannot know what shall befall us even from one moment to the next, for these things are too uncertain. But we can be sure of the fact that Christ loves us even more than Himself for He has laid down His life for us. We can be sure that what God says is true, for God does not lie, and He has promised to be with us always, to guide and direct us, and to work all things for good when we place them in His hands. We can be sure of the hope that Christ has gone ahead to prepare a place for us in heaven where we shall dwell with Him forever. And according to the Scriptures, these are just some of the glorious things which we must not underlook. Rather, as Johnson Oatman Jr. penned in his hymn Higher Ground, let us endeavour today to say and mean:

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho' some may dwell where these abound,
My pray'r, my aim is higher ground.

For faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Prayer: Wonderful Lord and loving Father, this day, lift us up and let us stand, by faith, on heaven's table land, a higher plane than we have found; Lord, plant our feet on higher ground. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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