Vision – the ability to see – is one of our most useful senses, but spiritual vision – ‘the art of seeing things invisible’, in the words of Jonathan Swift – is something essential to a life of faith. We need God to open our spiritual eyes; without the work of the Holy Spirit, our eyes are veiled and blinded (see 2 Cor 4:3-4). When God unveils our eyes, it’s like a lightbulb comes on and we can perceive spiritual truth.
Spiritual vision requires us to keep an eternal perspective on life (see Rom 8:17, 2 Cor 4:17-18). Without this, we are like Asaph who, in Psalm 73, found himself struggling with the same kind of problems which can blunt our effectiveness and leave us restless and dissatisfied with God. He knew that God was good (Ps 73:1), but he found himself envying the godless whose lives of ease seemed to make his struggle for godliness seem pointless (see Ps 73:3-12). He felt the spiritual life consisted of punishment and difficulties, whereas the wicked prospered and had no cares, despite their disdain for God. Asaph needed a shift in perspective which only comes as we encounter God. ‘In the sanctuary’, things looked very different and he realised that God is in ultimate control of all mankind (see Ps 73:17-20) and that only God could satisfy him (Ps 73:27-28).
We too need spiritual long-term vision, ‘long sight’ which puts our present troubles into perspective as we meditate on God’s majesty, beauty, holiness and love. Only then will we have the faith, like Abraham, to see things that are not become reality (Rom 4:17), seeing the invisible become visible as we pray for God’s will to be done and His kingdom to come, here on earth, as it is in heaven.