The Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish...." (Proverbs 29:18). Peter said "We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty" (II Peter 1:16) and it was that vision which changed the lives of the early believers. Isaiah said, "I saw the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up...." (Isaiah 6:1) and that vision changed his entire life. It has been said that the most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision. The Bible teaches that the person who does not have a vision of God in their life is "earthy," always looking upon material things and never looking up to God. Scripture tells us to "look up, and lift up our heads." In all the changing circumstances of life that is exactly what we need to do - Look up to God! The remedy for every heartache, every trial, every tribulation and every hardship is found in looking up to God. The Psalmist said, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD".. (Psalm 121). Let’s look closer at the necessity of "looking up to God."
Firstly - we need to look up to God for our cleansing. "All have sinned" the Bible says (Romans 3:23) and so all of us need cleansing. Where do we find that cleansing? Only in one place - the Cross of Christ. We must "look up" to the Cross and Him crucified. Yet there are many in the world who would have you believe that there is no sin in their lives - but there is - and someday that sin will come out and reveal itself. "You can be sure that your sins WILL find you out" the Bible says. When the King of Scotland was fleeing from his enemies he left his castle and ran deep into the forest. But soon he heard the baying of his very own blood-hounds. His enemies had gone into his castle and set them loose upon his trail. So it is with you and me, we try so hard to run and hide from our sins but they come baying at our heels, and we simply can not run far enough or fast enough to escape the consequences. So then is there any way at all that exists for us to escape? Yes there is - "There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains."
Secondly - We need to look up to God for guidance. Life is full of choices. Every day in countless situations we ask ourselves "what should I do about this, what action should I take, what is the best thing to do?" Wouldn’t it be absolutely wonderful if there was a way to make the right choice. Wouldn’t it be great to have some way to always have the right guidance in the decisions of life? Well there IS a way, and it is found through prayer and surrendering ourselves completely to Jesus Christ. If we fully give ourselves to Him and pray for His guidance He WILL give it to us. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him (the Bible says) and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:6). Take careful note that it says "in ALL thy ways," and that is precisely what it means - - in ALL things, whether it is your career, your circle of friends, your marriage - Everything!
Thirdly - We need to look up to God when we are "tempted." At some point in life many have said "I couldn’t help it, the temptation was just too great. No one has ever been tempted like I have been." Yes there was - there was one - and He remembered to look up to God. His Name was Jesus. The Bible states that "He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Remember, God promises that He "will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). When we give in to temptation the problem is that we did not "look up." Scripture says "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). There was once a young man who was so addicted to drugs that no one thought he would be able to escape its hold before it killed him - but he did. When someone asked him how he did it he replied, "On my two knees."
Fourthly - We need to look up to God for comfort. There is a lot of sorrow in this old world. It has beaten a lot of people down. Yet even when that sorrow is so great that our heart is broken we can always remember and rest in the assurance of God’s promise, "I will not leave you comfortless. I will be with you always." Jesus said, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4:35). Get rid of the notion that you have to be a preacher to do the work of the Lord. God has a job for each and every one of you right where you are. "Look Up," and He will show you what it is. Look at the Apostle Paul. Paul served God. He served Him in Asia, he served Him in Europe, he established churches, he won souls, and what was the secret of it all? He looked up to God!
Finally - We need to look up to God for the future. He has granted you a clear vision of all that you can achieve through Him and for Him. One day you will also be given a clear vision of all the gifts that you wasted and all that you could have done for Him which you did not do. Most people are interested only in carving out a little worldly niche for themselves but someday this life will end. What about the future? You can look up to God for that too. Jesus said "I am going to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). In this world sorrow knocks at everyone’s door. Trouble - sin - tears - grief and death all come to each of us, and we are forced to let them in. We have little power over them. But none of those things can enter into the gates of Heaven, that place where peace and happiness will reign forever. And it’s all yours if you have the right vision, and if you will just - "Look Up To God!"
God bless you,
Mark Shutts
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