29. What do you see? (1)

Confronting Anxiety Meditations No.29: What do you see? (1)

Mk 8:23,24 “When he had … put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

And so: So as we come to the penultimate study of this month’s series, I would like to suggest in summing up, that often there is little if anything we can do about some of the ‘big issues’ of the world, even as we noted earlier, but what we CAN do is change how we view all these things. I think this example of Jesus healing this blind man can be illustrative of how our lives are so often. I don’t want to get bogged down in the detail of what happened; hence I omitted the fact that Jesus spat on his eyes, I just want to use this man as an example of how we so often are, not physically, but spiritually.

Example of the Blind Man: First, he was blind. Second, some friends brought him to Jesus. Third, Jesus gave him an initial touch and he could see partially, Fourth, Jesus touched him again and his sight was completely restored.

Now watch that in the spiritual sphere: first, you were spiritually blind (even though you didn’t realize it), second somebody brought you to Jesus, third, Jesus touched you (and you were saved) and you suddenly had a measure of spiritual sight and started seeing things as they truly were and then, fourth, Jesus kept on touching your eyes and you keep seeing more and more (I hope!).

And Me: So let’s do a little self-identifying, because when we truly know who we are, it helps a great deal in doing away with anxiety or, at least, helping us much more in dealing with anxiety. There are two things we need to know about ourselves, no, we MUST know about ourselves, if we are to get a better handle on life.  And we must get both things very clear.

An Essential Understanding: First, I am a sinner. I’ve never sat in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, but I’m told (and TV portrays it) that they will sit in a meeting, and someone starts off, for example, “Hi, I’m John, I’m an alcoholic and I haven’t had a drink for three years.” Now note that: he IS an alcoholic and yet hasn’t had an alcoholic drink for all that time.

Now listen to the apostle Paul as he wrote to Timonthy: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Tim 1:15). Note the present tense. Note also when he says, ‘a trustworthy saying’ he was quoting one of those short sayings that the early church used  to convey the fundamentals, i.e. everybody said this. I AM a sinner. And if you missed that, in the next verse he reiterates it: “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” i.e. he now applies that commonly used saying to himself. But did that mean he was constantly sinning? No!

The Big “IF”: Listen to the apostle John: “I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 Jn 2:1) So note here, first a goal – that you will not sin but, second, there is a possibility – if anybody does sin. Like the alcoholic we have a description of who we are, what our potential is, but we no longer have to live by that particular potential. Why? Because we now have a greater potential, as John goes on to say in the next chapter: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 Jn 3:1)

Dealing with it: So yes, we have the potential of sinning but if/when you do, that’s not the end of it, the Holy Spirit seeks to convict you so, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9) Moreover, Jesus, who is seated at the Father’s right hand, intercedes for us as our ‘advocate’: “Father I died for them, they are mine,” and heaven forgives. Does this process make you less of a Christian? No, we all do it.

All of us! Name any great saint that you know, and I have to tell you that they are/were the same; they had what I refer to as ‘feet of clay’; in some part of their life there was a weakness and they got it wrong. Does that demean them? Quite the contrary, it shows that despite being a human being they were, with God’s grace, able to achieve great things.

And Anxiety? Now let’s put this in the context of anxiety. Is it wrong to be anxious? Definitely not, we all get anxious; why do you think Paul had to teach, “Do not be anxious about anything,” (Phil 4:6) if we didn’t get anxious? Being anxious is a warning that something needs divine attention, being anxious is not wrong, just a reminder you need God’s help. An indicator of maturity is how fast you ask for it. If you identify anxiety and immediately take it to the Lord, great! If you get anxious and hang onto it for weeks or months or even years, you have some lessons to learn and the first and most important one is, don’t try dealing with it on your own – take it to God.

A Reminder: Let’s finish with the words of that old hymn: “What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

Enough said.