Heaven's Eyes

In the past few months, the Lord has taught me many lessons. Although the applications of these lessons touch very different aspects of my life, the theme remains constant. Over and over in my mind, I wrestle with this simple word: love. For so long, I thought I knew what this word meant.

In a moment, I realize, I categorize love.


 

The love I have for...

my Savior: appreciative, respectful, dependent.

my family: soft, close, strong.

my friends: loyal, empathetic.

learning: eager, tenacious.

I'm learning what love really means. I am learning to conform my image to His. This is a soul-breaking lesson. Through the process, I have been broken. As my knowledge of Him increases, I am shown the weaknesses in myself. Again and again, the Lord picks up my pieces, He binds my wounds, and I heal. I become stronger. I become more like Him.

It is a lesson of complete transformation. I discover it's much like pulling a loose thread. The fabric frays and reveals an underlying network, much more extensive than ever imagined. His love touches everything and holds it together. With each new trial of learning God's character, I see His love spread to every corner of my being.

When learning a new concept, I like to puzzle out the inner workings. I observe them from every possible angle. Likewise, as spiritual matters impress me, I cope by writing my thoughts in a prayer journal. The following thoughts are my humble and desperate attempt at comprehending this teaching. Love is a lesson beyond encompassment, but the Lord is stretching me and although there is pain, it does not harm.

Love is not an emotion. Love is an anti-emotion. Love compels you to act in spite of your emotions. When your heart cries one word, love speaks another. Love is more. In spite of all emotions, love is able to impart strength and peace.

What is this love I speak of? How can it be defined?

Years ago, I defined love with one word: sacrifice. The nature of God is love. His love was shown in the sacrifice of His only Son. Selfless sacrifice. As His image-bearers, we are called to possess and express this virtue. As I grow older, I understand more and more what is required of me. The feat is impossible. In the course of a day, I can think of all the ways I express selfishness instead of love. In pursuit of His perfection, I have found myself discouraged with humanity. Where is hope when so much is asked and so little achieved?

As I sat reading one night, I was given an answer. Ridiculous as it sounds, I have always looked on the phenomenom of being "in love" with disdain. While others may laugh at the silliness produced, I found nothing amusing in a state which produces irrational thought. Surely the fact that your beloved is a real person, completely human, with faults and flaws should be consciously overlooked, but to be ignorant and unaware?

In the midst of my grumblings, Elisabeth Elliot expressed this thought which has changed my perspective forever.

This "blindness" to faults and flaws of the beloved is a moment when we are given Heaven's Eyes. The image revealed is that of who this person was created to be in their most beautiful, perfect form. We are allowed, for a moment, to see that person as God created them to be. We see them as he sees them.

Although I will never attain practicing perfect love, He does not count it against me. He does not see my flaws and failures when He gazes upon His beloved creation. He sees me as I was meant to be. He sees me as beautiful and perfect. He sees me with Heaven's Eyes.