My Eyes Saw His Eyes
From my comfy chair, I look across my living area into the kitchen. My eyes see His eyes. Those eyes on my refrigerator were a gift that had been strategically placed under the guests’ clear plates at a women’s meeting. They were awe-inspiring then, and this day those eyes meet mine again. I know those eyes. I know the indisputable compassion and love in them. And I also know the disappointment in those eyes when I miss the mark. That photo is a constant reminder that they are seeing me 24/7.
Masks. By now, we know them well, but long before we were wearing real masks daily, we were wearing spiritual masks. There is no getting around it, Jesus had those eyes that could see right through someone’s mask of shame, fear, and pain. He could see people in the dark, far away and even in the future. And he saw those who hid behind their masks of deceit and malice. Jesus knew about what was really in the hearts of those who were trying to come off as lovers of God, but who were liars and cheats. And those same eyes see us behind our literal and spiritual masks today. “…for He knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for He knew what was in each person.” (John 2:24-25). In the multitudes that followed Jesus, He saw faces, lives, situations, struggles, and hurts and He reached out and touched them all. And, He sees the masses of people today. He sees those rioting, yelling out profanities and speaking evil and hate. Yet, Jesus, through His eyes of compassion, sees their brokenness and pain.
So what if it were our eyes placed on a refrigerator? How do our eyes see? I think Christ might be asking us: “Do you see others the way I do? Do you realize that I died for them, too?” When you see someone trapped in hopelessness, what is your reaction? Does your heart fill with compassion because they are like “sheep having no shepherd”? When our eyes become compassionate like Jesus’ eyes, we will see people from a new perspective! As followers of Christ, included in our prayers, we should pray to have His eyes — eyes that pierce through broken hearts; eyes that see the good and into the restoration brought by Calvary’s cross.
Years ago, Amy Grant sang the song, “Father’s Eyes”. It went like this: “She’s got her Father’s eyes, eyes that find the good in things when good is not around, eyes that find the source of help when help just can’t be found, eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain, knowing what you’re going through and feeling it the same, just like my Father’s eyes.” Those words marked my heart back then and now as I sing those words today. We know that Amy was singing about God the Father’s eyes and urging us to be the kind of people who truly have our Father’s eyes. Every day, we can see one another with the eyes of the Father if we would but ask for our Father’s eyes. Lord, please give us your eyes for this world that needs your loving and compassionate eyes and heart.