Telescopes And Microscopes

By Eli Stutzman

September 1, 2011

Back in the years when I was growing up, dad bought a telescope. We would go on top of the hill and look around. Off in the distance was a barn with writing that we could ordinarily not read from the distance which was about 1½ miles away. With the telescope, we could read the writing which was an ad for a drug store in Millersburg. That was impressive to me. It made things look so much closer.

Later on I had an opportunity to look through a microscope. That made things nearby even more nearby. With a microscope you can see things too small for the eye to see.

Which is more important to life - the telescope or microscope? If you say it depends on what you want to see, you are right.

Telescope View

In the distance, things are happening that will affect us all. Egypt has had revolutionary changes, as have a lot of other countries in the area. Obviously, for the believer this will affect our lives in some way in the future.

Many Muslims have had dreams and visions about Jesus, and as a result, placed their faith in Jesus Christ. We need to stand with them and support them as they will be persecuted.

In China many Christians are in jail for preaching the gospel. They too need our prayers and support. When Jesus says lift up your eyes, he wants us to focus on what is farther away from home.

John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

When Jesus said this, we believe there was more to it than simply a grain harvest. He was referring to the harvest of souls of men.

Today, we can see the need for harvesters very clearly. We hear of people coming to our country looking for freedom and peace. They come from cultures that are completely different from what we are used to. This is "telescope view." But still the need is there for them to understand God's plan and will for their lives.

Since God has only one plan of salvation and that is through Jesus Christ, his Son, then how will they know unless we tell them?

Is their religion going to save them?

Jesus did say, He was the only door and anyone trying another way was a thief and robber.

Microsoft View

Now what is the microscope view, you may ask? That is when we examine ourselves and where we have pleased or displeased our God. We look inward and close up.

When I was young, I had a relative who would reply to those who asked whether we Amish folks had support for missions by saying: "We feel we have enough working on our own selves to keep us busy."

This statement is true, if we are to focus only on ourselves. When we are always self-focused, we will never get to the bigger view.

Who then will do the job of harvesting the immense potential crop?

So what shall we do, then? First, we have to recognize that what God has given us must be shared. The good news is that God has made very great and precious promises that are ours to claim. As Paul said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

The reason to conduct ourselves in an orderly and trustworthy manner is to honor God, who is likewise orderly and trustworthy.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

My challenge to you is to take a look at what God is doing in far away places around the world and become a part of it. It will change your life and maybe the life of others.

 

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