Through Heaven's Eyes

A single thread in a tapestry
Through its color brightly shine
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design

And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life

Look at your life through heaven's eyes
Lai-la-lai...

A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king
If a man lose ev'rything he owns
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?

So how do you measure the worth of a man
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance
And though you never know all the steps
You must learn to join the dance
You must learn to join the dance
Lai-la-lai...

So how do you judge what a man is worth
By what he builds or buys?
You can never see with your eyes on earth
Look through heaven's eyes
Look at your life
Look at your life
Look at your life through heaven's eyes 

Have you ever felt life is meaningless? Have you ever wanted something so badly that you fear that life would not be worth living without it? Have you ever wonder why does it always have to be you? 

Recently, my cell group are working through the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. As a group of twenties to thirties-year-olds, we raised many of our questions about life. As the wisest man, King Solomon, came to a point where he felt that he had 'been there, done that', and experienced all that life could offer him. His conclusion? "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" (Ecclesiastes 1:2) Even though many of us feel that we are in the prime of our lives, and we look forward to maturing in our walk, growing in love and wisdom, deepening our relationships, advancing in our careers, achieving independence,  finding our mate and building a family... deep down inside we know that all these cannot make our lives complete. And if we start to pin all our hopes for fulfilment on these treasures in life, we will one day realise we are running after emptiness, and setting ourselves up for disappointment. 

For one thing, these treasures are gifts that cannot be attained just by human effort. Sometimes, when you try too hard to get something, you actually spoil it for yourself. Only when you allow God to bless you as you work towards it in faith and hope, can you truly appreciate the gift and enjoy it to the fullest. If you keep focusing on what you have done or sacrificed to "earn" something, oftentimes you will end up expecting so much from it that you no longer feel grateful about having it anymore. And when you keep thinking that you need to continue to work hard just to keep it yours, the joy of having will be replaced by the fear of losing. Only when we understand that God's blessings are not determined by how much we have done/will do, but by His mercy and grace, can we start to loosen our grip, sit back and enjoy the ride whole-heartedly.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for while they sleep He provides for those He loves." Psalm 127:1-2

Also, a good thing obtained through the wrong way can actually turn the gift from a blessing to a curse; from a precious treasure, to a constant reminder of guilt and regret; from a heart's desire, to its despair and grief. A stolen treasure can never bring true satisfaction, joy or peace.

Yet, when we learn to see things and live life from God's perspective, everything changes. Suddenly the most mundane, menial task takes on a new meaning, because you get to do it in His name and for His pleasure. Suddenly the most daunting and dreaded assignment becomes a challenge you can face in His strength. Nothing has changed about you or your situation, just that now you see Christ at the other end of the yoke. And because you know He holds your ultimate reward and your future, you can be secure and be humble and be true.  All the difficulties in life become training ground for your character and soul; every stumbling block, a stepping stone to see yourself, accept yourself and allow changes to take place from within. And when you know you have an eternity to spend with Jesus, every little thing you do to love Him and love others, has eternal value--a lasting significance that outweighs momentary successes.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Yet, unless they see through Heaven's eyes...

...Together We Can Do So Much!

Recently, I went to a church conference, and one of the speakers shared this video with us, to show us the power of life-long friendships that are so deeply anchored in love and trust, and so richly bound by shared memories and dreams.

I looked back in my life, and I realised that God has indeed blessed me with many wonderful friends to see me through different seasons and chapters. Many of these friends continued to be a part of my life, as God wove our paths to converge time and time again. Friends are really His most precious gifts to me, angels without wings, yet they can lift me up from my filthiest pits and sing with me through my thickest nights. Even when they are not with me, the love they have shown me continued to shine on and make me smile, filling my heart with thanks, that someone, somewhere, knows and loves me.

Do you have a friend, or friends, with whom you can truly be yourself, and know that you will be accepted and loved without judgement? A safe haven that you can just laugh, cry and shout freely, and know they understand? Do you have friends who can make the dullest task, a breeze of fun and joy, or the scariest challenge, an inspiring adventure with a brother/sister by your side? Do you have friends whom you know will be there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on, or just a companion to make grieving a less lonely journey? Do you have friends whom you would like to grow old with? If you do, you can count yourself the very blessed few! :-)

Jesus is the Perfect Friend, who stepped out and sought His friends from the beginning; believed in them till the very end; nurtured them to grow in character, love and wisdom; challenged them to break out of their comfort zones, yet caught them when they thought they were going to sink into the sea of self-doubt and shame; served them with gentleness and humility, stooping low to wash their dirty feet; standing bravely in the gap to pray and encourage them even as He prepared to meet His end; bared the anguish of His soul to them as He prayed in sweats like drops of blood before them in the Garden of Gethsemane; conveying His love and forgiveness to them even as He hung on the cross, forsaken by those He loved; and finally laying down His life for them, so that He can make all things new for them, and for the very ones that rejected Him.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12,13

O Lord, grant me Your grace to be a true friend, as You have graced my life with so many precious gems. Teach me to see as You see, to listen as You listen; to give as You have given, and love as You have loved.