Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Perspective


“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’  Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5: 1-11 NIV)

Perspective depends on where you sit.  I never considered myself rich until I met people who were truly poor, who literally did not know where their next meal would come from.  You might consider yourself a decent athlete until you go up against a professional; then you will recognize the true limits of your abilities.  

Our perspectives in life are often so limited because we lack exposure to things that are different.  As a result, we develop skewed views of reality and we fool ourselves.  Peter was a devoted Jew and a hard worker.  It is easy to see why he would think he was a good man compared to others around him.  Yet, when he encountered Jesus and saw first-hand His power, he immediately recognized his true state as a sinner.  In the presence of the Lord, gone were any illusions of goodness.  The Light had exposed his darkness.

In order to become who God created us to be, our perspective must change.  We must realize who we truly are—sinners in need of a Savior and spiritually weak people in need of God’s strength.  Yet, we so often are in denial of this.  We look around and compare ourselves to others. From this perspective, we convince ourselves we are okay, or at least better than a lot of people.  And we resist any challenge to our view by others.  Who are they to judge?

It is only when we truly encounter Jesus that our perspective can change. He leaves no doubt who we truly are and our deep need for Him.  And if we respond like Peter, with humility, wonderful things can begin to happen.  Peter went from a mere fisherman to a man who led the Church. Once his perspective changed, so did he—in radical ways.

Today, consider the perspective you have of yourself.  Do you recognize who you truly are—a sinner in need of the Lord every moment of every day?  If you think that is ridiculous or over the top, then you need an encounter with Jesus.  That will definitely change your perspective and your life.  

© Jim Musser 2013

No comments: