Our greatest mental, physical, and social achievements are as straw compared with one glimpse of the living God. ~ Ken Boa
Tonight I had every intention of writing about distractions – those things we allow, knowingly or even unknowingly, to sidetrack us from fruitful fellowship with Christ. Somewhere, however, between my bread-making class, pick-up basketball games, and now sitting on my bed, another thought popped into my head and wouldn’t go away. So, “distractions” will have to wait; tonight I’m writing about what I believe is the most important paradigm for the Christian life – namely that perspective which John Piper describes as a “God-centered, soul-satisfying vision of reality.”
Here’s the thought that’s been bouncing around in my head: I realized that if I could ask the Lord for one thing while here on this earth, I would ask that He grant me His vision. I want His perspective on how to love Him well, love others well, make difficult decisions, deal with suffering, and honor Him with my time on this earth!
Ultimately, I want to live a God-centered, rather than self-centered, life! I want the Lord to so enlarge my vision of Him that there’s no room left to focus on myself.
What spurred this line of thought? Well, I’m blessed to be in a bible study with twelve amazing women, and we’re reading through Kay Arthur’s Lord, I Want To Know You – a neat book about the names of God used in Scripture. Last night we discussed the names Elohim and El Elyon.
Elohim – the first of God’s names used in the Bible (Gen. 1:1) – refers to God as creator. While discussing the significance of this name, Arthur points out that God created us for His glory – to give all of creation a correct opinion of His worth (Is. 43). The ultimate purpose of our existence is to know God, to delight in Him and in so delighting, to display His glory to the world.
Our bible study group discussed how difficult it is to live out the familiar and yet deeply profound truth that our life paradigm should be Soli Deo Gloria: “Glory to God Alone.” All too often we act like this life is about us. We become surprised, disillusioned, or even angry when God’s plan doesn’t fit ours. We doubt why He doesn’t do what we think He should do or act within the timeframe we think He should act. We question why He ordains the confusing situations, waiting periods, difficult circumstances, and seemingly senseless suffering that we think He should keep away from those He loves.
We forget that the purpose of this life is His glory, period! It’s all about Him – not our ease, our comfort, our advancement, our praise, our health, our happiness, or our way.
Despite the apparent harshness of this truth, the amazing thing is that God’s glory is also our good! While we might not readily define certain circumstances as good, the Lord knows what’s best for us – namely that we know, love, and honor Him. We will always find the greatest peace and fulfillment in maintaining a God-centered perspective no matter what we face. John Piper wisely writes, “The exhibition of God’s glory and the deepest joy of human souls are one thing.”
After discussing the goal of bringing God glory, our bible study group talked about the significance of God’s name El Elyon. The term means Highest, Exalted One, or Most High and refers to God’s sovereignty (Dan. 4:34). Ann Spangler provides this powerful definition in Praying the Names of God: “When we praise the Most High, we are worshiping the One whose power, mercy and sovereignty cannot be matched.”
Thinking about God as the sovereign Most High sparked further discussion in our group about God’s call to live out a God-centered perspective. In particular, it made me consider whether God is truly “most high” in my own mind, heart, and vision. Do I love and treasure Him above all else? Do I dream about, desire, and focus on Christ, or am I too distracted by other thoughts about a relationship, a job, a decision, fun, friends, the future, money, or myself?
Psalm 97 paints a powerful picture of El Elyon: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship him, all you gods! For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.”
Spangler writes this powerful response to Psalm 97. “The psalmist’s words make me wonder how different my life would be if I could etch this vision into my soul. How could I take my eyes off such a God? Wouldn’t this picture of him dominate my thoughts? Wouldn’t it compel my devotion and reshape my response to life, moment by moment, day after day?”
That’s what I want – to live with a vision of God’s grandeur that shapes how I think, work, give, love, and live. I want God to be Most High in my life!
A co-worker and I were talking a few weeks ago about how great it would be to live constantly with the heart and mind of Christ, to think about Jesus with every brain wave. In all honesty, I get excited about the mere thought. And while I know the Christian life is a process of growth, and we won’t reach such perfection with the snap of a finger, I pray that as we learn to abide in Christ a God-centered perspective will become the paradigm for our lives! I believe such a perspective results in His glory and our good!
God-Focused Vision
- But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death (Ps. 141:8).
- Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2).
- For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
- My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare (Ps. 25:15).
- Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word (Ps. 119:37).
