We Will See It Loosed
Do you remember the birthday party game, “Pin the Tail on the Donkey?” I may actually have PTSD from it! In everyday life, it takes no effort at all for me to lose my sense of direction. Add to that wearing a blind-fold after being spun around mercilessly by elementary-aged friends. Did I mention I can get dizzy just watching someone else spin? Let alone being spun myself! It was quite entertaining for others, though, to watch me head in the entirely wrong direction and not only miss the donkey, but sometimes plant my pin into the wrong wall.
John 11:43 “…[Jesus] cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’”
Jesus raised Lazarus from four days of death, yet he was blind-folded. He was sporting a face mask….not the kind of face mask that we’ve grown accustomed to wearing. Lazarus’s face mask covered his mouth, nose, AND HIS EYES! He was alive but had no vision! Surely if Jesus could deliver him from death, He could’ve dealt with the details of his grave clothes. He could’ve rid Lazarus of the mummy look!
But, Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Who are “them”? The people he did life with. The people who called Jesus to heal Lazarus who were still around four days later to mourn his death. “Them” are people we all need in our lives! Jesus did the heavy lifting, but He entrusted Lazarus to “them” to take off the remnants of death, that kept him from an abundant life.
Did you know that it is possible to be resurrected to new life by Jesus, yet still unable to hit the mark of your calling, because you are bound in hands, feet, mouth, and EYES? There are many formerly dead people walking around with vision problems. God has always been committed to community – He could unwrap us from our issues with the wave of His hand or the sound of His voice, yet, He chooses to partner us with other people. People who can see things we don’t, so that, with their help, we can see a future we wouldn’t have.
In my life, I’ve had times when I was blinded to my own calling, to my potential. I’ve had times when I was blind in relationships (goodbye ex-boyfriends and mean girls). I’ve had times when I was blind in my habits. I have, at times, been blind in my awareness to my own issues that hinder me from being the best version of me. We all have vision impairments, and those in our community are the ones who can help unwrap us from what incumbers us, so we that We Will See It (God’s future for us)… and It looks bright!
- Pastor Lori Champion