Game Plan 4 Life Devotional
Kelly Wood, Director of Community Relations, NCCAA
Driving through the mountains, Dan and I noticed the homes along the way. Some could barely be seen through the forest trees that surrounded them. We commented about the irony of building a beautiful home in the mountains with no view of anything but tree trunks. It reminded me of a story.
A couple married and bought an old house in the mountains. The house had good bones and there was no yardwork because their land was covered with trees.
As they worked to make the old house a home, one constant battle was the lovely green stuff and sap build up on the house from all the trees surrounding it. The economy took a downturn and things got tough for them, so they decided to sell off the trees near and behind their house in a last ditch effort to help them financially and with the cleanliness of the house.
When all the work was done, they were amazed at what they saw. The trees had been blocking the most breathtaking view of the mountains, the forests, and the valley below that they had no idea existed. They couldn’t see the forests for the trees! Clearing the land of the obstacles allowed them to see more clearly than ever, and the value of their home soared.
Our relationship with God is like that. Sometimes our lives get so cluttered and full of sap (and even good things) that we can’t see His goodness or His glory. There are obstacles (such as disease, fear, finances, long to-do lists, etc.) that keep us from fully seeing or knowing God’s faithfulness, grace, and mercy. We need to look beyond the forest and see things from His point of view. We see with earthly eyes, but when Heaven is revealed, it will be like we are seeing for the first time. There will be obstacles and gunk on this earth through which we have to suffer. But for those who have faith in Christ and the forgiveness of sins, we will experience a breathtaking view of His glory when He is fully revealed.
When I choose to set my mind to look past the tough things, and I look to and lean on Jesus instead, cutting down the trees in essence, not only does my view change, but my point of view changes as well. Rest in the assurance of salvation and put priorities in their proper order. And give God all the praise for His presence and the beautiful view we gain.
I Peter 1:3-9
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.