Seeing from God’s perspective – 2
This week we continue with this vital subject. So many things in the world are trying to get your attention. The way we see things determines our perspective. Your perspective will influence the way you make decisions. Your decisions will determine your outcome. I want us to focus this week on the trials and temptations we face each day. But before we look at that, let's see what the bible says about perspective.
Perspective is the lens through which we view life and God. That perspective is formed by what you believe is true or know is true. So, Paul prays this for us:
Eph. 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
The proper perspective helps us to view things differently. It might help you to have a better understanding of things that are happening. The story of Elisha and his servant is in the Old Testament. The king of Syria was fighting against Israel. Any time they wanted to surprise Israel; they realized that Israel already knew their plans. The king asked his servants who were betraying them, thinking they had a spy in their midst. They told him that Elisha knew everything, even what he was speaking in his bedroom because God revealed it to him. The king decided to find Elisha, so he surrounded Dothan, where Elisha and his servant hid. The servant saw all the soldiers and started to panic. His perspective was that they were in trouble and that they were about to die. "What shall we do?" he asked the man of God. "They that are with us are more than they that are against us," the prophet answered. Elisha prayed and asked God to open his eyes, and then he saw the Lord's army surrounding them and the king of Syria.
2 Kings 16:17 And Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
That changed his perspective fast. The enemy always focuses on your past, failures, and struggles because he knows that will influence your perspective. God deals with your history and focuses on your future because he knows it will change your perspective. Do you want to be influenced, or do you want things to change?
What happens when we face trials and temptations?
James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
There is a difference between temptation and trials. God tests us. Israel constantly faced hardship and temptation so God could test them to see if they would remain faithful to Him. The purpose of a test is not for us to fail. It is to show us what is in our hearts and what our commitment is to Him and His Word. The word for test is "Dokimion" in Greek. This word means to be approved and to be of reputation. The person that would inspect and determine the true value of a coin in biblical times was called a Dokimion. The test you face is to get you approved for the marketplace. Paul faced many trials, but through it all, he was approved to be faithful and had a reputation. When the sons of Sceva wanted to drive out the devils, they responded: "Jesus we know, and Paul we know, who are you?" Goliath was responsible for David's reputation.
Start looking at the test you face and see that they are there to approve you and give you a reputation that you are a man or a woman of God. At least allow the test to produce patience in you. Man, do we need to start with that!
The temptations we face are no different. The word for temptation is "Pierasmos" and means to be tested but with the purpose to be disqualified. It can also mean being entangled and snared. The objective is to discourage, condemn and bring shame on a person. After Adam and Eve sinned, they hid because they were ashamed. God warns Cain against the sin lying in wait to pounce on him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." The writer of Hebrew warns us:
Heb. 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
God gives us a fantastic promise.
1Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
James told us to count it all joy when we face these things. You might think he was out of his mind when he wrote that. But you are right. He was in the mind of Christ. Trails and temptations are not a problem when you look at it from God's perspective. They all are opportunities God uses to make us more than overcomers.
Ask God to change your perspective.
Col 3:2 Set your mind on things above and not on things on the earth.