Seeing with Our Own Eyes

“Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions… And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.

“She said to the king, ‘The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe… until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard… Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel!’ Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.’” 1 Kings 10:1,3-7,9a

“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
    but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
    and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5

“[Thomas] said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’ Eight days later,.. Jesus came and stood among them and… said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’  Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” John 20:24-29

Reputation begets inquisitiveness begets investigation. There may be fascination with something heard, but seldom genuine belief. Once individuals see with their own eyes, experiencing first-hand whatever the initial intrigue, no outside convincing is necessary for confidence in its truth.

In a day on nonstop media and a plethora of ‘thought leaders,’ our mental and spiritual muscles can quickly atrophy as we settle for and embrace as our own second-hand information. We search the internet for answers to significant questions and trust unidentified ‘experts,’ accept unproven hypotheses, take prescriptions without investigation, and mimic the proclamations of preferred gurus without prayer for spiritual wisdom. It’s vital we seek the Lord with our own eyes and minds for real understanding, faith and resolve. (Proverbs 2:1-12; John 4:42)

Do we spend our spiritual life at a distance from the Lord? Are we spiritually lazy, speeding through days as a drive-by devotee, but too busy to participate in the wide aspects of church and grappling with the word alongside others? Are our opinions and beliefs adopted from someone else’s, or do we dig into the Word to discover and experience the Lord Jesus firsthand, allowing Him to shape and renew our minds? (Romans 12:2)

Lord God, may I do all it takes to seek Your presence consistently, in order to know love You better, and so exalt You with my days. (1 Kings 10:24)