Sunday January 3, 2021
Here’s Looking At You, Kid
John, the beloved disciple saw Jesus every day for three years. He saw the love in His eyes when He called Him. He saw Him cry when Lazarus died. He saw His glory at the Transfiguration. And he saw forgiveness in His eyes on the cross. Can you imagine John’s struggle to find the words to describe what he saw in the eyes of Jesus, as King of kings and Judge? What a picture John saw! How do you even find the right words to describe absolute power, holiness…and judgment?
Before we talk about the eyes of God, let’s just talk about eyes for a moment. We have heard it said that they are a window…and not just a window, but a window of the soul. Eyes give us a glimpse into the deep parts of who people are. Luke tells us that the eyes are lamps to our bodies, filling us with light (Lk.11:34).
When the eye is clear, Luke declares that the whole body is full of light! Well, there never was a clearer eye than Jesus. Can you imagine how much Light was in Him? He had the fullness of the Spirit, had the radiant glory of the Father, and was without the defilement of sin (Jn.17:5)…and that was while He was here on earth! He didn’t just have light. He was Light!
But John saw Him in the fullness of His deity with eyes like a flame of fire…eyes so pure and undefiled, piercing with absolute holiness. Take that in for a moment because these are the eyes that are ever upon us. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of pure)
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Heb.4:13)
Now because His eyes are ever upon us, He of course sees everything that we do; the good, the bad, the righteousness, and the sinful. Nothing is hidden. Everything is uncovered before Jesus. That can be kind of frightening! His eyes are open to the ways of men and He judges them rightly (Jn.5:22). God has given all authority of judgment to Jesus. It is through Jesus that all of our works and deeds will be seen, tried, tested.
Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor.3:13-15)
Remember how John saw Him? With flaming eyes of fire! But here comes an amazing truth!
In Habakkuk, we are told that “His eyes are too holy to approve of evil,” and that He “cannot look on wickedness with favor” (Hab.1:13). So how could He possibly look at us, let alone keep His eyes upon us? At this moment as Jesus looks at us what does He see? Only that which is beautiful and holy! All of the ugliness has been burned destroyed by the holy fire in His eyes! His holy gaze burns away our sins and unfruitful deeds.
I will bring them through the fire, I will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. they will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (Zec.13:9)
How amazing is that? We need to see ourselves as our Savior sees us…beautiful, holy, radiant, and pure. Now we cannot use this as a license to sin; that would be taking advantage of grace. We must always strive to be holy and sinless.
So rest in this: You are beautiful…you are holy…you are pure (at least that’s how Jesus see you…shouldn’t you?). Amen and amen.
