Much of
the scenery I saw during our vacation in Alaska was through the windows of
moving vehicles. I was thankful for glass that allowed me to see the beauty
while remaining warm and dry. But the windows also presented a challenge. When
it rained, water drops on the outside obscured the view. When the temperature
changed, condensation caused fog to develop on the inside.
Those
challenges help me understand why it is impossible for us to see life the way
God intended it. Sin obscures the beauty of life that God wants us to enjoy.
Sometimes sin is inside—our selfishness creates a fog that makes us see
ourselves as more important than we are and causes us to forget about others’
interests. Sometimes sin is outside. The injustice of others causes our tears
to fall like rain, preventing us from seeing the goodness of God. Sin of any
kind keeps us from seeing the wonder and glory of life as God designed it.
For now, even though “we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror” (1 Cor. 13:12 nlt), we see enough to know that God is good (Ps. 34:8). The many wonderful things that God has revealed will help us to forsake sin and work to minimize its consequences in the world.
The only way to see life clearly is to focus on God. (RBC)
