HEELHEID | Toekomsvenster
HEELHEID-Week9-Dag5: Hou aan!/Keep on going!
Posted on June 12, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Biskop Ken Untener van Saginaw het gesê…
Miskien sal ons nooit die resultate sien nie, maar dit is die verskil tussen die meesterbouer en die werker. Ons is werkers, nie meesterbouers nie, dienaars, nie die messias nie. Ons is profete wat getuig oor ’n toekoms wat nie ons eie is nie (ter herinnering aan Oscar Romero).
Gal 6:9-10 Laat ons dan nie moeg word om goed te doen nie, want as ons nie verslap nie, sal ons op die bestemde tyd ook die oes insamel. Solank ons die geleentheid het, moet ons dus aan almal goed doen, veral aan ons medegelowiges.
Soms word ons moedeloos in ons werk vir die Here. Deur die geskiedenis was daar baie mense wat hulle lewe vir reg en geregtigheid, vrede en versoening en diens aan ander opgeoffer het. Ons is soos boustene in die gebou van God se koninkryk. Ons is instrumente in sy hand om die beginsels en waardes van hierdie koninkryk uit te leef. So wy ons onsself elke dag aan die roeping om iets van God se koninkryk gestalte te laat vind, maar dis nie die eerste pogings of die laaste pogings nie. Ja, ons het die regte perspektief nodig.
’n Kollega het ’n paar jaar gelede ’n aangrypende gedig aangestuur. Dit hou verband met die lyding van Oscar Romero wat op 24 Maart 1980 deur sluipmoordenaars vermoor is terwyl hy nagmaal bedien het in ’n klein kapel van ’n kankerhospitaal waar hy gewerk het. Biskop Ken Untener het die gedig geskryf, maar wou op een of ander manier vir Oscar Romero aan die woord stel. Hier volg ’n paar sinne uit die gedig: ‘Die koninkryk van God gaan nie net ons pogings te bowe nie, maar ook ons visie daarop. Ons kry in ons lewe net ’n fraksie reg van die wonderlike onderneming wat God se werk is. Ons plant die saad wat eendag sal groei. Ons gee water vir die saad wat reeds geplant is, wetende dat dit belofte vir die toekoms inhou. Ons lê fondamente wat verder ontwikkel moet word. Ons voorsien gis wat gevolge ver bo ons vermoëns voortbring. Ons kan nie alles doen nie en dit gee ons ook ’n gevoel van vryheid wanneer ons dit verstaan. Dit stel ons in staat om iets te doen, en om dit goed te doen. Dit mag onvolledig wees, maar dit is die begin, ’n tree op die pad, ’n geleentheid vir die genade van die Heer om deur te breek en die res te doen.’
Miskien het jy moeg geword om goed te doen en op te staan vir die waardes van God se koninkryk. Moenie moedeloos word om goed te doen nie! Speel jou rol. Doen jou deel. Dis God se werk!
Here, gebruik die klein bydrae wat ek maak in diens van u koninkryk, deur die krag van u Gees. Amen.
Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw said…
We may never see the results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own (to the memory of Oscar Romero).
Sometimes we get discouraged doing the Lord’s work. Throughout history, there were people who sacrificed their lives for justice and righteousness, peace and reconciliation, serving others to the best of their ability. We are instruments in God’s hands to live the principles of his kingdom. We are like bricks in the building of God’s kingdom. In this way, we devote ourselves every day to the calling to let something of God’s kingdom become known. However, it is not the first efforts to this end and it will not be the last attempts. We need the right perspective.
A colleague sent me a wonderful poem, written by Bishop Ken Untener. It is an attempt to give a voice to Oscar Romero, who was assassinated on 24 March 1980 while serving mass in a small chapel of a cancer hospital where he worked. He spoke out against injustice in his society. Here are a few lines from the poem, ‘The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing this. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.’
Don’t become discouraged to do good. It is God’s work!
Lord, use the small contribution I am making in service of your kingdom, by the power of your Spirit. Amen.
Posted in HEELHEID
HEELHEID-Week9-Dag4: Praat!/Speak up!
Posted on June 11, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Martin Luther King Jr. het gesê…
Wanneer alles verby is, sal ons nie die woorde van ons vyande onthou nie, maar die stilswye van ons vriende.
Spr 31:8: Praat jy vir dié wat self nie hulle sê mag sê nie.
Wanneer ek soms in ’n vreemde land kom en nie die taal van die mense verstaan nie, voel ek asof ek doofstom is. Daar is geluide, maar niks wat ek verstaan nie. ’n Mens voel soms baie, baie eensaam in so ’n situasie. As iemand dan langs jou kom staan en vertaal wat die mense sê, maak die wêreld weer sin.
Daar is baie mense wat verskriklik eensaam voel omdat hulle voel dat niemand na hulle luister nie. Hulle word geminag en verneder. Hulle mening word nie ernstig geneem nie. Omdat hulle nie ryk is of sosiale status het nie, word hulle nie by sake betrek nie. En wat doen ons? Ons bly liewer stil. Ons laat staan hierdie mense alleen in hulle eensaamheid.
Kan God dit ooit geniet? Is dit soos ons met sy mense mag maak? Nee, elkeen is kosbaar vir Hom. Elkeen moet voel dat daar na hom of haar omgesien word. Ons mag nie stilbly wanneer iemand nie gereken word nie. Ons mag nie oor onreg stilbly nie. Ons moet ons daarteen verset. “Destyds in Duitsland,” skryf die Duitse pastoor Martin Niemöller, “het hulle (die Nazi’s) heel eerste die kommuniste kom haal, en ek het niks gesê nie, want ek was nie ‘n kommunis nie. Toe het hulle gekom vir die Jode, en ek het niks gesê nie, want ek was nie ’n Jood nie. Toe het hulle die Katolieke weggeneem, en weer het ek niks gesê nie, want ek was ’n Protestant. Toe kom haal hulle vir my, en teen daardie tyd was daar niemand meer oor om namens my iets te sê nie.”
Here, leer my om soveel vir ander om te gee dat ons niemand sal minag nie, maar mekaar se waardigheid sal beskerm, in Jesus se Naam. Amen.
Proverbs 31: 8 ‘‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Sometimes when a visit another country where I do not know the language, I feel very lonely. I feel like someone who cannot speak or hear. There are sounds of people speaking, but it makes no sense. Everything changes when someone walks with me and translates the words of people. The world makes sense again.
There are so many people feeling very lonely n the world we live. The world does not make sense. They feel as if nobody understands them or listens to them. They are humiliated and never considered for anything. People’s language always excludes them. Their views are not taken seriously. Because they are not rich or of the same social standing, people do not bother to involve them in anything. And what are we doing? We remain silent. We allow that they remain in their lonely place.
Does God enjoy it? Is this what we should do with his people? No, every person is precious to God. Therefore, every person should feel that he or she is also important in the eyes of other people. Every person should feel that we take them seriously, that they are cared for and that their views are also considered.
We are not allowed to by quiet when we see injustice. We have to resist it. “In Nazi Germany,” writes the German pastor, Martin Niemöller, “they (the Nazi’s) first came to take away the communists. I said nothing, because I was not a communist. Then they came and took away the Jews. I said nothing because I was not a Jew. Then they came and took away the Catholics. Again, I said nothing, because I was a Protestant. Then they came to take me. Then there was nobody to say anything on my behalf.”
Lord, teach me to care so much for other that we will never disregard anybody, but will protect one another’s dignity, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week9-Dag3: Sosiale gewete = Gebed in aksie/Social conscience = Prayer in action
Posted on June 10, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
G. A. Studdert Kennedy het gesê …
Hy roep ons om vloede en hongersnood en pes en siekte te bestry. Hy haat dit en wil dit saam met ons oorkom. Dit sal oorkom word. Die dokter, die ontdekker, die wetenskaplike werk saam met God soos die priester. Alle goeie werk is God se werk, en alle goeie werkers doen God se wil. (Uit: The Hardest Part).
Matt 6:9-13 “So moet julle bid: “Ons Vader wat in die hemel is, laat u Naam geheilig word; laat u koninkryk kom; laat u wil ook op die aarde geskied, net soos in die hemel. Gee ons vandag ons daaglikse brood; en vergeef ons ons oortredings soos ons ook dié vergewe wat teen ons oortree; en laat ons nie in versoeking kom nie maar verlos ons van die Bose.
Die koninkryksgebed (Onse Vader) wat Jesus ons geleer het, is ’n gebed om ’n sosiale gewete. Ja, ons oë is gevestig op die Een wat sy naam sal heilig, sy koninkryk sal vestig en sy wil sal laat geskied. Ons leef in afhanklikheid van Hom wat ons elke dag sal gee wat ons nodig het – kos, klere, vergifnis en verlossing uit die mag van die bose.
Die oomblik wanneer ons egter hierdie gebed op ons lippe neem, kyk ons ook rondom ons. Ons sien wanneer sy naam ontheilig word. Ons sien wanneer die koninkryk van mense in die pad van die vestiging van sy koninkryk staan. Ons sien hoe die wil van mense op aarde sy wil vir die aarde verydel. Ons sien die honger mense. Ons sien hoe mense smag na vergifnis. Ons sien hoe mense ly weens die bose strukture in ons samelewing – verslawing, onderdrukking, onreg, geestelike en emosionele mishandeling.
Ons kyk met ons Vader se oë na die wêreld. Dit raak ons. Dit hou ons wakker. Dit maak ons aktief. Dit laat ons opstaan vir sy naam, koninkryk en wil. Ons beywer ons dan vir ’n beter wêreld.
Ons weet dit begin by ons. Ons deel ons brood. Ons vergewe. Ons staan langs hulle wat ly. Ons beveg onreg. Ons is nie ekstremiste nie. Ons is mense wat begin het om deur die koninkryksgebed te droom oor ’n nuwe wêreld!
Ons Vader wat in die hemel is, maak ons soos U, om Christus se ontwil. Amen.
G A. Studdert Kennedy said…
He calls us to combat floods and famine and pestilence and disease. He hates them, and wills with us to overcome them, and they shall be overcome. The Doctor, the Pioneer, the Scientist, are workers with God like the Priest. All good work is God’s work, and all good workers do God’s will. They are labouring to make a world (From: The Hardest Part).
Matt 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
The kingdom prayer (The Lord’s Prayer) which Jesus taught us is a prayer for a social conscience. Yes, our eyes are fixed on the One who will sanctify His name, who will establish His kingdom and whose will shall prevail on earth as it is in heaven. We live in dependence upon him that he will give us what we need every day – food, clothing, forgiveness and redemption from the power of evil.
Yet, the moment we take this prayer on our lips, we also look around us. We see that his name are being profaned. We see when the kingdom of people stands in the way of the establishment of His kingdom. We see how the will of human beings on earth contradicts His will in heaven. We see the hungry. We see how people yearn for forgiveness. We see how people are suffering because of the evil structures in our society – addiction, oppression, injustice, spiritual and emotional abuse.
We look with our Father’s eyes at the world. It affects us. It keeps us awake. It makes us active. This allows us to stand up for His name, kingdom and will. We work for a better world. We know it begins with us. We share our bread. We forgive. We stand beside those who suffer. We fight injustice.
We are not extremists. We are people who began to dream about a new world because we have prayed the kingdom prayer!
Our Father in heaven, make us like you, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week9-Dag2: Ware aanbidding/True worship
Posted on June 9, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Abraham Heschel het gesê…
’n Godsdienstige mens is ’n persoon wat God en mens te alle tye gelyktydig in gedagte hou. Dit is iemand wat dit nie duld dat enige kwaad aan ander gedoen word nie, wie se passie medelye is en wie se grootste krag liefde en weerstand teen wanhoop is.
Jes 58:3,6,7: Hulle vra: “Waarom vas ons, maar U sien dit nie, verootmoedig ons ons, maar U gee nie aandag daaraan nie?” Is die vas wat Ek wil hê, nie dít nie: om dié wat onregverdig gevange gehou word, te bevry, om die juk wat op mense druk, af te haal, om verdruktes vry te maak, om elke juk te breek? Is dit nie dat jy vir dié wat honger is, van jou brood gee nie, dat jy aan die armes en die dakloses ‘n blyplek gee nie, dat wanneer jy iemand sonder klere sien, jy vir hom klere gee nie, dat jy jou medemens nie aan sy lot oorlaat nie?
Die mense aan wie Jesaja skryf gaan deur moeilike tye. Ballingskap is nie maklik nie. Hulle is van hulle grond ontneem en woon in ’n vreemde land.
Wanneer ’n mens in die moeilikheid is, probeer jy alles. Iemand vertel van ’n ateïs wat in die loopgraaf tydens ’n oorlog begin bid het. Toe een van die soldate vir hom vra of hy dan nie ’n ateïs is nie, het hy geantwoord: ‘In loopgrawe is daar geen ateïste nie!’
Om te vas en te bid was twee van die drie groot pilare van vroomheid in Israel. Mense doen dit as hulle God se wil soek. Ons doen dit selfs vandag nog. Die ander pilaar is om armes te help. Uit hierdie gedeelte van Jesaja word dit duidelik dat ’n mens nie hierdie drie pilare kan skei nie.
Die volk vas, maar hulle verhouding met die mense rondom hulle is stukkend. Hulle buig hulle hoofde in gebed, maar hulle onderdruk mense, baklei met mekaar, hou hulle kos vir hulleself terwyl mense honger is en draai hulle rug op onreg in die samelewing. God duld dit nie.
Gebed, vas en sosiale geregtigheid is één saak. Dis ’n ou waarheid. Dis nie ’n nuwe gebod nie. Ons ken dit van kleins af. Hoekom sukkel ons dan so? Hoekom onderbetaal ons die mense wat vir ons werk, terwyl ons onsself Christene noem? Hoekom is ons wat onsself Christene noem nie voluit betrokke by die armes in die samelewing en hulle behoeftes aan kos, klere en huisvesting nie? Hoekom duld ons die onreg wat aan mense gedoen word, terwyl ons onsself Christene noem?
As ons regtig geestelik en emosioneel groei, sal ons aanbidding en lewe saam met ander ’n eenheid vorm.
Gees van die lewende God, leer my opnuut dat my toewyding aan U ook toewyding aan ander beteken, om Christus se ontwil. Amen.
Abraham Heschel said…
Is 58:3,6,7: ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.
Isaiah’s people are going through tough times. Exile is not easy. They are deprived of their land and live in a foreign country.
When one is in trouble, one tries everything. An atheist started praying in a trench during a war. When one of the soldiers asked him if he was not an atheist, he replied: ‘In trenches there are no atheists!’
To fast and pray were two of the three major pillars of piety in Israel. People did it when they were seeking God’s will. We do it even today. The other pillar is to help the poor. From this passage of Isaiah it becomes clear that one cannot separate these three pillars.
The people fasted, but their relationship with the people around them was a complete mess. They bowed their heads in prayer, but they oppressed people, had conflicts with each other, kept their food to themselves while people were hungry and turned their backs on injustice in the community. God does not tolerate it.
Prayer, fasting and social justice are inseparable. It is an old truth. It is not a new commandment. We know it from childhood. Why don’t we act accordingly? Why do we underpay the people working for us, while we call ourselves Christians? Why are we, who call ourselves Christians, not more concerned about the poor in society and their needs for food, clothing and housing than we are? Why do we tolerate injustice while we call ourselves Christians?
If we are really growing spiritually and emotionally, our worship and life with others will be in agreement.
Spirit of the living God, teach me again that my commitment to you also means commitment to other people, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week9-Dag1: Sosiale gewete/Social conscience
Posted on June 7, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
St Bonaventure (1221-1274) het gesê …
Op die pad na goeie waardes staan ons nie stil nie; iemand wat nie daagliks vorentoe beweeg nie, gee grond prys. Om stil te staan is onmoontlik; hy wat nie wen nie, verloor; hy wat nie opstyg nie, daal. As ’n mens nie die leer klim nie, moet jy afklim. As ons nie oorwin nie, sal ons oorwin word.
2 Petrus 1:3,5-8: Sy Goddelike krag het ons alles geskenk wat ons nodig het om te lewe en Hom te dien. Dit kom deurdat ons Hom ken wat ons geroep het deur sy heerlikheid en mag. En juis om hierdie rede moet julle alles in die stryd werp om julle geloof te verryk met deugsaamheid, die deugsaamheid met kennis, die kennis met selfbeheersing, die selfbeheersing met volharding, die volharding met godsvrug,
die godsvrug met liefde onder mekaar en die liefde onder mekaar met liefde vir alle mense. As julle dit alles besit en dit neem steeds toe, sal julle met ywer en met vrug ons Here Jesus Christus beter leer ken.
In navorsing oor ons geestelike ontwikkeling word telkens verwys na die sosiale aspekte van geloof. James Fowler, byvoorbeeld, verwys in sy sesde fase van geloofsontwikkeling na die ontwikkeling van die sogenaamde selflose passie vir alle mense. Ons begin verstaan dat alle lewe op een of ander manier verbind is. Medelye met mense se nood en vreugde word kenmerkend.
Wanneer ’n mens geestelik en emosioneel groei, besef jy dat die lewe om baie meer as jou eie redding gaan. Hoe belangrik dit ookal is dat ons in ons lewe sekerheid het dat ons kinders van God is en eendag hemel toe gaan, mag dit nooit daar bly nie.
Dis duidelik uit die Bybel dat God se mense al minder oor op hulleself fokus. Dis asof die Heilige Gees ons uit die tronksel van onsself bevry. Ons ontwikkel ’n passie vir God se koninkryk, sy wil, sy naam, sy mense sonder brood, sy mense wat vergifnis nodig het en sy mense wat uit die strukture van boosheid verlos moet word.
Wanneer mense geleer het om God Vader te noem, sien hulle skielik helder en duidelik. Dis asof ons dan deur die oë van hierdie Vader na die skepping, ander mense en onsself kyk. Ons sien die blomme, voëls, berge en see, want ons het die oë van ons Vader. Ons sien sy ander kinders, die broers en susters wat hy vir ons gegee het, raak.
Kortom, ons ontwikkel ’n sosiale gewete. Dis nie ekstreme mense wat so is nie. Dis nie gereserveer vir Ghandi, die Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela en Martin Luther King nie. ’n Sosiale gewete is kenmerkend van hulle wat deur God die Vader, Seun en Heilige Gees heelgemaak is. Dit kan nie anders nie. Dis ’n simptoom van mense wat naby die hart van God lewe.
Vader, leer my om met u oë na die wêreld te kyk, deur die krag van u Gees. Amen.
St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) said…
In the way of virtue, there is no standing still; anyone who does not daily advance, loses ground. To remain at a standstill is impossible; he that gains not, loses; he that ascends not, descends. If one does not ascend the ladder, one must descend; if one does not conquer, one will be conquered
2 Peter 1:3,5-8: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Research on our spiritual development focuses regularly on the social aspects of faith. James Fowler, for example, refers in his sixth phase of faith development to the development of a so-called selfless passion for all people. We begin to understand that all life are in some way connected. Compassion for those in need and sharing in their joy becomes typical.
When people grow spiritually and emotionally there is a growing realisation that life is about a lot more than our own salvation. How important it may be that we should have assurance that we are children of God and will go to heaven, it cannot be all there is to faith.
We know from the Bible that God’s people are focusing less and less on themselves as time goes on. It is as if the Holy Spirit frees us from the prison cell of ourselves. We develop a passion for God’s kingdom, His will, His name, His people without bread, His people in need of forgiveness and His people in need of deliverance from the structures of evil.
When we learn to call God Father, we see clearly. It is as if we begin to look through the eyes of this Father at creation, other people and ourselves. We see the flowers, birds, mountains and sea, because we have the eyes of our Father. We see his other children, the brothers and sisters he has given us.
In short, we develop a social conscience. It is not extreme people who have this conscience. It is not reserved for Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. A social conscience is characteristic of those who are healed by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It cannot be otherwise. It is a symptom of people living near the heart of God.
Father, teach me to look with your eyes at the world, through the power of your Spirit. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week8-Dag5: Herstelde visie/Restored vision
Posted on June 5, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Luis Fernando Aragón het gesê …
Enige ligte wat op die verkeerde saak skyn sal jou mislei. Ek fokus op my Here Jesus, die ware lig wat elke mens verlig. Hy verblind my nie, betower my of verwar my nie. Hy skyn op my pad om vir my die pad te wys, skyn in my gedagtes om vir my die waarheid te wys en skyn op my lewe om my na die Lewe te lei, want Hy is die weg, die waarheid en die lewe. Sy lig skyn in die duisternis, en die duisternis kan nie weerstaan nie (Uit: Pilgrim: One Thousand Days on the Road).
Joh 21:18-22: Daarna sê Hy vir Petrus: “Volg My!” Toe Petrus omdraai, sien hy die dissipel volg vir wie Jesus baie lief was… Toe Petrus hom dan sien, vra Petrus vir Jesus: “Here, en wat van hom?” Jesus antwoord hom: “As Ek wil hê dat hy in die lewe moet bly totdat Ek weer kom, is dit nie jou saak nie. Volg jy My!”
1 Tim 1:12,13: Teenoor Christus Jesus ons Here is ek dankbaar: Hy het my krag gegee en my betroubaar geag om my in sy diens te stel, al het ek Hom voorheen belaster, vervolg en beledig. Maar God was genadig teenoor my omdat ek in my ongeloof nie geweet het wat ek doen nie.
Daar is drie redelik kontroversiële figure in die Nuwe Testament. Natuurlik is dat baie ander, maar ek wil graag iets illustreer. Hierdie drie is Petrus, Judas en Paulus.
Petrus volg Jesus met toewyding. Sy belydenis is die rots waarop die kerk van Jesus Christus gebou is (Matt 16:18,19). Hy belowe om saam met Jesus die dood in te gaan, sou dit nodig wees (Matt 26:33-35). Hy kap Malgus se oor af toe hulle sy Jesus in hegtenis wou neem (Joh 18:10; Matt 26:51,52). Toe hy egter alleen is, ontken hy dat hy Jesus ooit geken het (Matt 26:59-75). Om aan Jesus getrou te bly sou te veel kos. Sy aandag is verdeel tussen Jesus en die druk van buite.
Judas volg Jesus met toewyding. Hy is passievol oor die koms van die koninkryk van God. Toe Jesus nie inpas by sy idee van hierdie koninkryk nie, werk hy met die wêreld se magte saam om van Hom ontslae te raak (Matt 26:14-16). Sy lewe ontspoor. Sy aandag word verdeel omdat Jesus nie aan sy verwagtinge voldoen het nie.
Paulus vervolg Jesus. Hy is passievol om die gemeenskap teen hierdie nuwe sekte te beskerm. Hy het enkelvisie. Hy is onberispelik in sy toewyding aan God. Hy dien die God van sy voorvaders en sal alles doen om dit te beskerm. Sy aandag is nie verdeel nie (Fil 3:4-6).
Petrus huil bitterlik toe hy die dubbelvisie in sy lewe ontdek (Matt 26:75). Na sy opstanding stel Jesus Hom in sy diens. Petrus moes bevestig dat Hy Jesus bo alles liefhet (Joh 21:15-22).
Judas probeer sake regstel, maar die owerhede stel nie belang om die bloedgeld terug te vat nie. Hy gee moed op en beëindig sy lewe. Hy besluit dit. Hy gee God nie ’n kans om dinge in sy lewe reg te maak nie.
Paulus ontdek op die Damaskuspad dat sy lojaliteit misplaas was (Hand 9). ’n Mens kan geweldig toegewyd wees, enkelvisie hê, maar dit kan aan die verkeerde dinge wees. Toe die lewende Here hom ontmoet, verander sy passie teen Christus in ’n passie vir Christus en sy kerk.
Die ontmoeting met die lewende Here stel mense wat dislojaal was, wat misplaaste toewyding gehad het, in sy diens. Hy verander ons. Wanneer ons besluit om ons foute en dubbelvisie self te dra, verloor ons hoop. God hou ons dubbelvisie en misplaaste lojaliteit nie teen ons nie. Deur berou, skuldbelydenis en nuwe toewyding gee Hy ons die geleentheid om oor te begin. Die gevolge kan nie bereken word nie. Kyk net hoe die Here vir Petrus en Paulus gebruik het!
Here, genees my van my dubbelvisie en misplaaste enkelvisie, sodat ek U met nuwe en volle toewyding kan dien, deur die krag van u Gees. Amen.
Luis Fernando Aragón said…
Any lights shining on the wrong subject will mislead you. I focus on my Lord Jesus, the true light that enlightens every man. He does not blind me, dazzle me, or confuse me. He shines on my path to show me the way, shines on my thoughts to show me the truth, and shines on my life to lead me to Life, because He is the way, the truth, and the life. His light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot resist it (From: Pilgrim: One Thousand Days on the Road).
John 21:19-22: Then he said to Peter, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
1 Tim 1:12,13: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
There are three relatively ‘controversial’ figures in the New Testament. Of course, there are many others, but I would like to illustrate something. These three are Peter, Judas and Paul.
Peter followed Jesus with dedication. His confession is the rock on which the church of Jesus Christ is built (Matt 16:18,19). He promised to go with Jesus into death if it would be necessary (Matt 26:33-35). He chopped Malchus’ ear off when they wanted to arrest his Jesus (John 18:10; Matt 26: 51,52). Yet, when he is alone, he denied that he ever knew Jesus (Matt 26:59-75). To remain faithful Jesus would cost too much. His attention was divided between Jesus and the pressure from outside.
Judas followed Jesus with dedication. He was passionate about the coming of the kingdom of God. When Jesus did not fit into his idea of ​​the kingdom, he worked with the world’s powers to get rid of Him (Matt 26:14-16). His life was derailed. His attention became divided, because Jesus did not meet his expectations.
Paul persecuted Jesus. He is passionate about protecting the community against this new sect. He has single vision. He is impeccable in his devotion to God. He served the God of his ancestors and would do everything to protect it. His attention was not divided (Phil 3:4-6).
Peter wept bitterly when he discovered that he had double vision (Matt 26:75). After his resurrection, Jesus used him in his service. Peter had to confirm that he loved Jesus above all (John 21:15-22).
Judas was trying to make amends, but the authorities were not interested to take the blood money back. He gave up and ended his life. It was his choice. He did not give God a chance to restore him.
Paul discovered on the road to Damascus that his loyalty was misplaced (Acts 9). A person can be extremely dedicated, can have single vision, but it may be to the wrong things. When the living Lord met him, He changed his passion against Christ in a passion for Christ and his church.
The encounter with the living God allows people into his service who were disloyal, who had misplaced devotion. He changes us. When we decide to carry our mistakes and double vision ourselves, we lose hope. God does not hold our double vision and misplaced loyalty against us. Through remorse, repentance and a new commitment He gives us the opportunity to start all over. The results of this new orientation, this new vision, cannot be calculated. Just think how the Lord used Peter and Paul!
Lord, heal me of my double vision and misplaced single vision, so that I can serve you with new and full commitment by the power of your Spirit. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week8-Dag4: Agas se dubbelvisie/Ahaz’ double vision
Posted on June 4, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Richard C. Halverson het gesê…
God het ’n tyd vir alles, ’n perfekte skedule. Hy is nooit te haastig en nooit te laat nie. Die ‘wanneer’ van sy wil is net so belangrik soos die ‘wat’ en die ‘hoe’ daarvan (From: No Greater Power: Perspective for Days of Pressure).
Jes 7:2,11,12: Die berig dat die Arameërs reeds in die Israelitiese gebied in Efraim kamp opgeslaan het, het vir Agas, die koning uit die geslag van Dawid, in Jerusalem bereik, en hy en sy volk het baie bang geword. Hulle het gebewe soos die bome in die bos bewe in die wind. Vra van die Here jou God ‘n teken, enigiets, diep uit die doderyk of uit die hoogtes daarbo. Maar Agas het geantwoord: “Ek sal niks vra nie, ek sal die Here nie tart nie.”
Toe Jesaja in die teenwoordigheid van God staan en sy heiligheid sien (Jes 6), bely hy dat hy ’n sondaar is – net soos die mense onder wie hy woon. Hy is egter bereid om onder hulle te gaan werk. Sy opdrag is vreemd. Hy moet verkondig, maar hulle sal nie hoor nie. Hulle sal hulle ore toedruk en hulle harte verhard. As gevolg daarvan sal hulle totaal vernietig word totdat daar net ’n klein groepie sal oorbly wat getrou aan die Here gebly het.
Die volgende hoofstuk bevestig dit. Agas, die koning van Juda, en sy mense word van alle kante bedreig. Hulle is baie bang. Hulle broers van die Noorde (Israel) en die groot wêreldmag van daardie tyd, die Arameërs, het magtige vyande geword. Hulle gaan hulle grondgebied afvat.
Die Here stel die koning voor ’n keuse: ‘Bedaar! Bly kalm! Moenie bang wees nie! Moet jou nie ontstel oor hierdie twee stukke brandhout nie, hulle rook net. Moenie bang wees vir die dreigemente van Resin en sy Arameërs en van Peka seun van Remalja nie. Die Arameërs en die Efraimiete onder leiding van die seun van Remalja beplan jou ondergang. Maar so sê Ek, die Here jou God: Dit sal nie plaasvind nie, dit sal nie gebeur nie… Vra van die Here jou God ‘n teken, enigiets, diep uit die doderyk of uit die hoogtes daarbo’ (7:4,5,7,11).
Hier het iemand die geleentheid om die Here te vertrou. Ons kan sê dat hy die geleentheid het om te sê: ‘Laat u wil geskied.’ Hierdie gebed is immers totale oorgawe. Dit is om ons eie wil aan syne ondergeskik te maak. Dit is om enkelvisie te hê.
Die koning maak sy keuse: ‘Ek sal niks vra nie, ek sal die Here nie tart nie’ (7:12). Dit klink vroom. Dit is nie vroom nie. Dis ongeloof. Agas besluit om eerder ’n koalisie met Egipte te sluit as om die Here te vertrou.
Dit gebeur so maklik. Wanneer ons rondom ons kyk en dit lyk of dinge buite beheer raak, is die opsie om die Here te vertrou die moeilike een. Dis veral moeilik as ons ander opsies het! Jesus sê egter dat ons nie twee gode kan dien nie. Ons dien Hom of nie. Ons vertrou Hom of nie.
Op wie vertrou jy vandag? Op die rokende stukke brandhout van wêreldse hulp of op die Here wat jou uitnooi om sy wil te laat geskied? Jy sien, wanneer ons agenda sy wil is, sal alles reg uitwerk. Wanneer ons agenda uit ons verdeelde harte kom, word ons lewe chaoties.
Vader, leer my om U volledig te vertrou. Laat u wil geskied! Amen.
Richard C. Halverson said…
God has a time for everything, a perfect schedule. He is never too soon, never too late. The when of His will is as important as the what and the how (From: No Greater Power: Perspective for Days of Pressure).
Isaiah 7:2,11,12: Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
When Isaiah stood in the presence of God and saw His holiness (Isaiah 6), he confessed that he was a sinner – just like the people among whom he lived. However, he was willing to work among them. His assignment is strange. He must preach, but they will not hear. They will cover their ears and harden their hearts. As a result, they will be totally destroyed until only a small number that remained faithful to the Lord will remain.
The next chapter confirms this. Ahaz, king of Judah, and his people were threatened from all sides. They were very afraid. Their brothers of the north (Israel) and the great world power of that time, the Assyrians, were powerful enemies. They wanted to invade Judah and take their territory.
God gave the king a choice, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smouldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin… Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘It will not take place, it will not happen. Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights (7:4,5,7,11).
Here someone had the opportunity to trust God. We can say that he has had the opportunity to say, ‘Your will be done.’ This prayer is total surrender. It is to make our will subservient to his. It is to have single vision.
The king makes his choice, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test’ (7:12). It sounds pious. It is not pious. It is unbelief. Ahaz decided rather to ask with Egypt for help than to trust the Lord.
It happens so easily. When we look around us and it seems that things are getting out of hand, the option to trust the Lord is a difficult one. It is especially difficult if we have other options! Jesus says that we cannot serve two gods. We serve him or not. We trust him or not.
Who do you trust today? The smouldering stubs of firewood of worldly assistance or the Lord inviting you to let His will be done? You see, when our agenda is His will, everything will work out. When the agenda comes from our divided hearts, our lives become chaotic.
Father, teach me to trust you completely. Your will be done! Amen.
HEELHEID-Week8-Dag3: Dawid se dubbelvisie/David’s double vision
Posted on June 3, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Bede Griffiths het gesê …
God het my op my knieë gebring en my my eie nietigheid laat sien. Hierdeur is ek weer gebore. Ek was nie meer die middelpunt van my lewe nie en daarom kon ek God in alles sien (Uit: The Golden String, 1954).
1 Kron. 21:8: Dawid het teenoor God bely: “Ek het swaar gesondig toe ek hierdie ding gedoen het. Vergewe tog nou my oortreding! Waarlik, ek het baie dwaas opgetree.”
Vir baie van ons is Dawid een van die gunsteling figure in die Ou Testament. Dink aan al die Psalms wat hy geskryf het. As daar een mens in die Ou Testament is wat mense deur die eeue geïnspireer het, woorde gegee het om te bid en moed gegee het om aan te hou in moeilike omstandighede, is die Dawid. Dink aan sy wonderlike moed om teen Goliat op te staan! Hy word selfs ’n man na God se hart genoem (Hand 13:22).
Hierdie skaapwagtertjie wat nie eens in berekening gebring is toe Samuel ’n koning moes salf nie, was sekerlik dié koning van alle konings in die Ou Testament. Dis hoekom die Ou Testament Hom as die ideale koning beskou, die soort koning wat in die Messias voortgesit sou word. As ons sy Psalms lees, lyk dit of hierdie man ’n intieme verhouding met God gehad het. Hy was geestelik en emosioneel volwasse, sou ons sê.
Die ander rede hoekom hy een van die gunsteling figure in die Bybel is, is omdat ons so maklik met hom kan identifiseer. Dawid het voete van klei gehad – soos ons. Sy lewe getuig dikwels van iemand wat nie alles in sy lewe uitgesorteer gehad het nie. Dink aan sy sonde met Batseba (2 Sam 11). Dit was dubbelvisie in die ergste graad. Hy pleeg seksuele sonde, probeer alles toesmeer en pleeg moord. Sy lus vir ’n ander man word ’n duur fout – vir hom en ander. Hy word later ’n instrument van satan deur ’n volkstelling te hou (1 Kron. 21). Getalle is belangrik!
Hy belowe met ’n eed dat hy niks teen Simeï, die man wat hom gevloek het tydens die rebellie van sy seun, sal doen nie (2 Sam 16:5-13). Op sy sterfbed maak hy egter seker dat Simeï (een heelwat ander) uit die weg geruim sal word (1 Kon 2:8,9). Jy kon Dawid nie op sy woord neem nie.
Dawid se lewe getuig dus ook van dubbelvisie. Soms was dit ’n ander vrou. Soms wou hy spiere bult omdat hy mal was oor mag. Soms was dit ’n ou bitter gedagte.
God se genade is groot. Hy gebruik ons ten spyte van ons verlede. Hy bly getrou, al word ons ontrou. Laat ons, soos Dawid, ons dubbelvisie erken en bely (Ps 51; 1 Kron. 21:8). Dis die enigste oplossing vir heelwording. Dis die enigste manier waarop ons weer die regte fokus kan kry.
Gees van God, druk u vinger op die dubbelvisie in my lewe, sodat ek dit kan raaksien, bely en weer enkelvisie kan hê, in Jesus se Naam. Amen.
Bede Griffiths said…
God had brought me to my knees and made me acknowledge my own nothingness, and out of that knowledge I had been reborn. I was no longer the centre of my life and therefore I could see God in everything (From: The Golden String, 1954).
1 Chronicles 21:8: Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
For many of us, David is one of the favourite figures in the Old Testament. Think for a moment about all the Psalms he wrote. If there is one man in the Old Testament who inspired people throughout the ages, given them the words to pray and gave them courage to persevere in difficult circumstances, it is David. Remember his wonderful courage to stand up against Goliath! He is even called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).
This shepherd boy, who was not even considered initially when Samuel had to anoint a king, was certainly the king of kings in the Old Testament. That is why the Old Testament regarded him as the ideal king, the kind of king that the Messiah would be. If we read his Psalms, it seems that this man had an intimate relationship with God. He was spiritually and emotionally mature, we would say.
Another reason why he is one of the favourite figures in the Bible is because we can easily identify with him. David had feet of clay – like us. His life often shows that not everything was sorted out in his life. Think about his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). It was double vision in the worst degree. He committed sexual sin, tried to cover up everything and then committed murder. His lust for another man’s wife was a costly mistake – for him and others. He later became an instrument of Satan by holding a census (1 Chronicles 21). Numbers were important for him. He wanted to have power!
He also promised with an oath that he would do nothing against Shimei, the man who cursed him during the rebellion of his son (2 Samuel 16:5-13). On his deathbed he made certain that Shimei (and many others) would be ‘dealt’ with (1 Kings 2:8,9). You could not trust David’s promises.
David’s life therefore also demonstrates what double vision is. Sometimes it was a woman. Sometimes he wanted to flex his muscles because he was power crazy. Sometimes it was an old bitter thought.
God’s grace is wonderful. He uses us in spite of our past. He remains faithful even when we are unfaithful. Let us, like David, confess our double vision (Ps 51; 1 Chronicles 21:8). It is the only solution for healing. It is the only way single vision will be restored in our lives.
Spirit of God, press your finger on the double vision in my life, so that I can see it, confess it and so that single vision can be restored, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week8-Dag2: Abraham se dubbelvisie/Abraham’s double vision
Posted on June 2, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
François Fénelon gesê …
Daar is genoeg goed en sleg elke dag. Om daagliks die wil van God te doen is die koms van sy koninkryk in ons en terselfdertyd ons daaglikse brood. Ons is inderdaad ongelowig en skuldig aan heidense wantroue as ons verlang om die toekoms wat God vir ons verberg binne te dring; laat dit aan Hom oor; laat Hy dit lank of kort, bitter of soet maak; laat Hy daarmee doen soos dit Hom behaag (Uit: Spiritual Progress or Instructions in the Divine Life of the Soul)
Gen 12:1-4: Die Here het vir Abram gesê: “Trek uit jou land uit, weg van jou mense en jou familie af na die land toe wat Ek vir jou sal aanwys. Ek sal jou ‘n groot nasie maak, Ek sal jou seën en jou ‘n man van groot betekenis maak, en jy moet tot ‘n seën wees. Ek sal seën wie jou seën, en hom vervloek wat jou vervloek. In jou sal al die volke van die aarde geseën wees.” Abram het toe weggetrek, gehoorsaam aan die woord van die Here, en Lot het saam met hom getrek. Abram was vyf en sewentig toe hy uit Haran weggetrek het.
As ons die idee van geestelike en emosionele volwassenheid op Abraham se lewe moes toepas, sou ons kon sê dat dit, soos die Engelse sê, ’n ‘mixed bag’ was. Hier het ons ’n man wat saam met sy vrou in totale oorgawe aan God se droom alles verlaat – sy huis, familie en alles wat hulle geken het. Dit, sou ons kon sê, getuig van iemand wat geestelik en emosioneel volwasse is.
Die einde van hulle verhaal is net so indrukwekkend. Nadat hulle vir 25 jaar gewag het op die vervulling van die droom wat God vir hulle gegee het, naamlik om ’n kind te hê, is Abraham bereid om in gehoorsaamheid aan God hierdie kind te gaan offer. Al wat saakgemaak het was onverdeelde lojaliteit aan en liefde vir God.
Tussen die begin en einde van die verhaal is dit egter baie anders. Dit is vol twyfel en angs. Hy lieg vir die heerser van Egipte deur te sê dat sy vrou sy suster is (Gen 12:10-20). Angs en onsekerheid oorweldig hom toe hy na jare steeds geen kind het nie (Gen 15). Selfs nadat God hom verseker het dat Hy sy woord sal hou (Gen 15), besluit hy en Sara dat hulle nie langer gaan wag op hierdie absurde beloftes van God nie. Hulle besluit om Hagar, die slavin, te gebruik om ’n kind te kry (Gen 16). God vat te lank om te doen wat Hy belowe. In Gen 17 verseker God hom weer van sy verbond, maar Abraham lag in God se gesig oor hierdie belofte (Gen 17:17). Later lag sy vrou ook (Gen 18:12).
Dubbelvisie ontwikkel wanneer ons God se beloftes nie ernstig neem nie. Dit laat ons dinge doen wat slegs ons naam en toekoms ernstig neem. Dit sien nie die groter prentjie van God se beloftes nie. Dubbelvisie laat ons ons eie planne maak. Dubbelvisie kyk weg van God af. Enkelvisie rus in God se trou. Dit leer ons totale oorgawe en gehoorsaamheid.
Vader, vergewe my dat ek so dikwels soos Abraham en Sara fokus verloor. Gee my die genade om in u beloftes te rus, om Christus se ontwil. Amen.
François Fénelon said…
Sufficient for every day is the good and the evil thereof. This daily doing of the will of God is the coming of his kingdom within us, and at the same time our daily bread. We should be faithless indeed, and guilty of heathen distrust, did we desire to penetrate the future, which God has hidden from us; leave it to Him: let Him make it short or long, bitter or sweet; let Him do with it even as it shall please Himself (From: Spiritual Progress or Instructions in the Divine Life of the Soul)
Gen 12:1-4: The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
If we were to apply the idea of ​​spiritual and emotional maturity to Abraham’s life, one could say that it was ‘mixed bag’. Here we have a man who, with his wife, left everything – his home, family and all that they knew – in total surrender to God’s dream. This, we could say, shows someone who was spiritually and emotionally mature. The end of their story is just as impressive. After they waited for 25 years for the fulfilment of the dream that God gave them, namely to have a child, Abraham was prepared to sacrifice this child in obedience to God. All that mattered was undivided loyalty and love for God.
Between the beginning and end of the story it is very different. It is full of doubt and anxiety. He lied to the ruler of Egypt by saying that his wife was his sister (Genesis 12:10-20). Anxiety and uncertainty overwhelmed him when they still had no child after years (Gen 15). Even after God assured him that he would keep his promises (Gen 15), they decided that they would no longer wait for these absurd promises of God to come true. They decided to use Hagar, the maidservant, to have a child (Gen 16). God takes too long to do what He promised. In Genesis 17 God assures him again of His commitment to His covenant, but Abraham laughed in God’s face about this promise (Gen 17:17). Later his wife also laughed (Genesis 18:12).
Double vision develops when we do not take God’s promises seriously. It makes us do things with only our name and future in mind. It does not see the big picture of God’s promises. Double vision lets us make our own plans. Double vision looks away from God. Single vision rests in God’s faithfulness. It teaches total surrender and obedience.
Father, forgive me because I often loose focus like Abraham and Sarah. Give me the grace to rest in your promises, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
HEELHEID-Week8-Dag1: Enkelvisie/Single vision
Posted on June 1, 2015 July 14, 2015 by annesnel
Ferdinand Deist het gesê…
Wat God goed gemaak het, het ons kwaad gemaak. Wat God as wysheid bedoel het, het ons vir dwaasheid gehou. Wat God as lewe beskou het, het ons vir die dood aangesien. So het ons die lewe kwytgeraak.
Gen 3:1: Die slang was listiger as al die wilde diere wat deur die Here God gemaak is en het vir die vrou gevra: “Het God werklik gesê julle mag van geen boom in die tuin eet nie?”
Matt 6:22-24: “Die lamp van die liggaam is die oog. As jou oog goed is, sal jou hele liggaam lig hê. Maar as jou oog sleg is, sal jou hele liggaam sonder lig wees. As die lig in jou donker is, hoe donker moet dit dan nie wees nie!” “Niemand kan vir twee base tegelyk werk nie. Hy sal óf die een minder ag en die ander een hoër, óf vir die een meer oorhê en die ander een afskeep.
As ’n mens dubbelvisie het, moet jy ’n oogarts gaan sien. Miskien het jy nie net probleme met jou oë nie. Soms is dit ’n simptoom van ’n groter probleem. Jy het hulp nodig. Enkelvisie is wat jy nodig het. Dis gesond.
Die Bybel is vol mense wat dubbelvisie gehad het. Dit was nie ’n fisiese probleem nie. Dit was ’n geloofsprobleem. Hulle dubbelvisie was ’n simptoom dat hulle verhouding met God skeefgeloop het. Ons gaan die volgende paar dae na ’n paar mense kyk wat hierdie probleem gehad het. Miskien ontdek jy dieselfde gebrek in jou. Dit is genade, omdat dit ons die geleentheid gee om sake reg te stel.
Adam en Eva, ons eerste ouers, het in liefde en harmonie saamgeleef. Onder die misleiding van die duiwel besluit hulle om die vrug te eet waarvan hulle nie moes eet nie. Die Satan hou ’n lieflike prentjie aan hulle voor: ‘God weet dat julle oë sal oopgaan die dag as julle van daardie boom eet en dan sal julle soos God wees deurdat julle alles kan ken’ (Gen 3:5).
Om soos God te wil wees kom heeltemal natuurlik. Ferdinand Deist sê dat ons soos God wou wees deur die geheime van die lewe self te ken en self te hanteer. Ons wou nie arbeiders wees nie. Ons wou self die tuin besit: ‘En toe ons meen dat ons gode geword het, het ons agtergekom dat ons alle kontak met God afgesny het’, skryf Deist.
Wanneer alles rondom onsself draai, wanneer ons die sentrum van ons eie bestaan word is dit een van die vreeslikste simptome van dubbelvisie. Dit gebeur ten diepste omdat ons nie meer die Woord van God glo nie. Dis immers hoe die Satan sy gesprek met die paartjie in die tuin begin: ‘Het God regtig gesê…?’ (3:1).
Wanneer jy dit begin bevraagteken, neem jou beheer van jou eie lewe. Dan word jy die god van jou lewe. Dan begin die geloofsprobleme van dubbelvisie.
Gees van God, stel my in staat om enkelvisie te hê, in Jesus se Naam. Amen.
Ferdinand Deist said …
What God made good, we made bad. What God meant to be wisdom, we held for foolishness. What God intended to be life, we considered to be death. This is how we lost life.
Gen 3:1: Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Matt 6:22-24: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
If a person has double vision, he or she needs to see an eye doctor. Maybe they do not only have problems with their eyes. Sometimes it is a symptom of a bigger problem. They need help. Single vision is what they need. It is healthy.
The Bible is full of people who had double vision. It was not a physical problem. It was a faith issue. Their double vision was a symptom that their relationship with God went wrong. We are going to focus for the next few days on some people who had this problem. Maybe we shall discover the same defect in our life. It is grace, because it gives us the opportunity to correct matters.
Adam and Eve, our first parents, lived in love and harmony. By the deception of the devil they decided to eat the fruit from which they should not have eaten. Satan painted a lovely picture before them, ‘God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’ (Gen 3:5).
The want to be like God comes quite naturally. Ferdinand Deist says that we wanted to be like God so that we could know the secret of life itself and so that we could personally handle it. We did not want to be labourers in the garden. We wanted to own the garden. Once we thought that that we had become gods, we realised that we had cut off all contact with God.
When everything revolves around ourselves, when we are the centre of our own existence, we have one of the worst symptoms of double vision. It happens, because we no longer believe the Word of God. After all, this is how Satan began his conversation with the couple in the garden. ‘Did God really say …?” (3: 1). When you start questioning His Word, you take control of your own life. Then you are the god your life. Then the faith problems of double vision begin.
Spirit of God enable me to have single vision, in Jesus’ name. Amen.