Photo by Marek Studzinski
“No one merely decides to experience the Christian Scriptures as the all-compelling, all-satisfying truth of one’s life. Seeing is a gift. And so, the free embrace of God’s word is a gift. God’s Spirit opens the eyes of our heart, and what was once boring, or absurd, or foolish, or mythical is now self-evidently real.” – John Piper
I received a gift decades ago, when I came to belief in Jesus, but for so many years never really knew the great significance of what I had received. As a result, I never touched that gift. I never embraced it. I enjoyed good years, a meaningful career, family and friends, but the gift was forgotten. Over the years it gathered dust. The many Bibles always within reach around the house had no consistent, meaningful impact, although picked up almost every Sunday. As in the words from the quote above, the book was “once boring.”
Fast forward. Beginning just ten years ago, everything changed. Through a prolonged and life-jolting experience under God’s corrective hand, I believe the Spirit of Christ finally got through to me. By God’s grace I was gripped by a new pursuit. Setting the course on this difficult journey I would read through the Bible multiple times. I would write notes on almost every page, complete with dates they were written. (I still use that same Bible today!) Countless hours would be spent in quietness and prayer. Every opportunity for worship, fellowship and teaching would be taken. Over those three intense years I would also read 40 other books that would inspire me with more insight into God’s unfolding revelation.
I’m grateful for that time. Most importantly, because of that process, my sight began to change. It was like opening gifts that had been stacked in my closet, unopened. The “once boring,” seemingly irrelevant book in my possession, holding sixty-six ancient documents and personal letters, began to reveal a compelling mystery by a divine Author. Using the difficult journeys and dusty hands of many inspired writers over fifteen centuries and countless generations, the Spirit of Christ opened the eyes of my heart to new vision. He began teaching me how to live with eyes of faith, like followers have done throughout the ages.
I’ve definitely come to realize what is so mysterious and powerful about the awakening of the human spirit and the opening of the eyes of the heart. It is entirely the work of His Spirit, not from a distance, but from within us. From Spirit to spirit, from spirit to soul, we are changed. It doesn’t happen because of any independent, intellectual decision we make. “No one merely decides…” as John Piper points out. Rather, we are drawn by His Spirit to respond.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
– From Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi, 61 AD, Philippians 2:13 (ERV).
Let’s return to one of Paul’s letters. This amazing apostle had a heart for prayer. Reflect on these words, as if he were praying for you, because he was. This is the mysterious and timeless work of God.
“I ask God… to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! …I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God…” – Taken from the letter to the believers in Ephesus (The Message paraphrase)
There is power in this prayer (actually two prayers from Paul combined into one, both from the same letter to the believers). The Spirit of Christ gave Paul the wisdom to understand what we were made for, but sometimes wait years to really see…
“…what it is he is calling you to do…his work in us who trust him… to strengthen you by his Spirit…”
(the drawing power of God in you)
“…as you open the door and invite him in…”
(the inner response of your will)
“… your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do…”
(receiving the gift of new vision)
“…grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life.. take in… reach out… experience… rise..! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”
(to experience the fullness of God’s divine nature within)
