The Big Picture

When I first learned to drive, my dad gave me some great
advice, “Never lose sight of the
bigger picture.”  He trained me
to constantly monitor what was happening on my left and right, in my rear-view
mirror, and as far down the road as I could see.  Over the years, I’ve realized that Dad’s words
apply not just to driving a car, but to other areas of life as well.

Jesus had similar advice when He spoke to His disciples about their role in the
world, “…open your eyes and look
at the fields!” (John 4:35)  In
other words, one of the first priorities for every follower of Christ is to
cultivate a global perspective.

When my wife and I use to take walks, I sometimes caught
myself looking down at the ground in front of me.  I keep reminding myself to look up and take in
my surroundings.  It’s a far more
inspiring view.  Life is too short to
spend it staring at the ground.

Many believers don’t take time to appreciate the grand sweep of God’s
redemptive plan in the scriptures and how God has uniquely prepared them to
participate.  When we lift our eyes, our
hearts will be touched by the immensity of the harvest task, the scarcity of
workers, and the spiritual readiness of many to embrace the good news.

“Never lose sight of the bigger picture.”  Through the years, Dad’s advice has protected
me from danger and distraction.  And each
time I lift my eyes, I am changed.  I see
things I never noticed before.  The
picture gets clearer, and my life takes on more meaning.  And my passion to connect “those who
know” with “those who don’t” grows.

How about you? Have you lifted your eyes lately?