Blind Spots
Have you ever had a blind spot?
Of course you have. We all have them. You have them even now whether you realize it or not. But that’s the definition of a blind spot, right? We don’t see what we don’t see.
I used to have hair. Really I did… haha!
It started to fall out on top in the back so I couldn’t see it as the bald spot grew and grew. Other people could see it, but I didn’t want to believe it! One Sunday, I was confronted with the reality right in front of my eyes. How did I get to see the back of my head you ask? Well, we used to sit in the front row in church. We figured the six of us would sit where no one else wanted, front and center, in order to free up a row for another family elsewhere in the sanctuary. I never needed to be looking at the large screens to the side of the stage showing the pastor to those in the back as he preached. He was right in front of me! But one Sunday, as I sat with my arm around my wife, I glanced over at the screen. I hadn’t realized that our family was visible at the bottom of the screen as the cameras followed the pastor. My first thought was, ‘Who is the bald guy with his arm around my wife!?!’
Suddenly, I no longer had a blind spot regarding my bald spot!
Another blind spot I had was to the daily, present reality of the spiritual realm, active around us at every moment.
I grew up in a conservative, bible-believing, missions-minded, Baptist church. We trusted that the Bible is God’s word and that we are to tell others about His gift of salvation available to anyone who believes. And yet, there was so much of our worldview, in both my home and church, that relegated the spiritual to certain times and activities during our week. If anything, evil was only present and active in the most heinous of cases, and usually overseas. I learned to separate ‘real life’ from our spiritual life, truly a false dichotomy.
The reality is that spiritual beings are operative around us every moment of every day. We need to be aware of this, but not overly focused on the enemy. One of the things I love about FICM is that we focus on Jesus Christ. At the same time, we do need to acknowledge that the spiritual battle is true and actual in everyday life.
2 Kings 6 tells the story of how the prophet Elisha warned the king of Israel where the king of Aram would be attacking. They were prepared every time, causing the king of Aram to suspect a spy in their midst. Finally, the king of Aram sent ‘a massive army’ against the town where Elisha lived. When Elisha’s servant woke the next morning, he said, ‘Oh no my lord! What shall we do?’ (verse 15). This servant was seeing the problem but only factoring in the physical, known resources available to fight the enemy. Verses 16 & 17 tell us Elisha’s response. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 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” (NIV).
God is not distant and disinterested. The Lord of Hosts is present and active all around us, all the time. Whether you are having a ‘normal’ day or facing a challenge, remember, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). Don’t only consider the visible, physical resources at your disposal. It is the Lord’s strength and resources we need to walk in freedom and victory. Have you considered the reality of the spiritual battle in your life today? Do you consider God’s resources in fighting the battles of life?