Grown-Up Thinking
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13.11, 12
One of the sweet innocences of childhood is the child’s belief that he is the center of the universe and all things around him are there for his personal use. He doesn’t care that it’s two in the morning and that neither Mom nor Dad has had more than an hour of sleep in the past 24 hours – and, that whatever sleep there was had been fitful at best. He isn’t concerned with from where his next bottle will come – only that it will come but not nearly quick enough. His view of life is narrow at best.
Oh, it’s not that we don’t enjoy having our babies around. We marvel as they grow and mature – as they learn to adapt to and move within his ever expanding world.
At first, decisions are simple and, for the most part, are guided by physical urges and personal discomforts. He desires to touch even though touching sometimes breaks – He doesn’t completely understand yet how fragile life and happiness is.
As he matures, his range of movement gets greater and his sphere of understanding is heightened – He begins to question what lay ahead and all around. His world expands into the world of others – overlapping and sometimes becoming confused. The realization that the world does not, in fact, revolve around him begins to shock him to his very core. The fact that not everyone will bow to his personal desires and urges derails his philosophy of life.
Looking around, he sees a world in confusion. The kids at school are less than nice and it seems that no one cares. His Sunday school teacher has been teaching him that God is good and that He is in control, yet, as the boy matures he sees greater and farther reaching issues that affect people beyond his community and into the entire world – wars, famines, pestilences plague the world.
He asks himself, “Where is God?”
Personally, I find great comfort in realizing that my understanding of things is extremely limited when it comes to how God works. I find that God’s holy angels, even when in the midst of great battles (Daniel 10), seem to be in perfect control and living in the reality of God’s power over death and hell. (Revelation 20.1-3)
Living in a sin-cursed world (Romans 8.22) and existing in a body tainted by the effects of a fallen nature, we see things through a distorted lens. Paul says that “we see through a glass darkly.” Essentially, that means that we are using a glass that cannot be focused. Whatever we see has been blurred out of focus. It’s similar to how a two year old might view a professional football game. All of the elements are there; however, he has no understanding.
Have you ever thought of the holy angels who are ever present around the throne of God? They have a perfect view of God, the world, and the angelic creatures. They are neither disturbed nor discouraged by world events or how the end will come.
With perfect vision of God on His throne, they respond together in one accord: “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6.3ff)
Oh, if we could only see through a clear glass and catch a glimpse of the Sovereign of all creation as He rules the universe from His throne and to understand His purpose.
“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13.11, 12
One of the sweet innocences of childhood is the child’s belief that he is the center of the universe and all things around him are there for his personal use. He doesn’t care that it’s two in the morning and that neither Mom nor Dad has had more than an hour of sleep in the past 24 hours – and, that whatever sleep there was had been fitful at best. He isn’t concerned with from where his next bottle will come – only that it will come but not nearly quick enough. His view of life is narrow at best.
Oh, it’s not that we don’t enjoy having our babies around. We marvel as they grow and mature – as they learn to adapt to and move within his ever expanding world.
At first, decisions are simple and, for the most part, are guided by physical urges and personal discomforts. He desires to touch even though touching sometimes breaks – He doesn’t completely understand yet how fragile life and happiness is.
As he matures, his range of movement gets greater and his sphere of understanding is heightened – He begins to question what lay ahead and all around. His world expands into the world of others – overlapping and sometimes becoming confused. The realization that the world does not, in fact, revolve around him begins to shock him to his very core. The fact that not everyone will bow to his personal desires and urges derails his philosophy of life.
Looking around, he sees a world in confusion. The kids at school are less than nice and it seems that no one cares. His Sunday school teacher has been teaching him that God is good and that He is in control, yet, as the boy matures he sees greater and farther reaching issues that affect people beyond his community and into the entire world – wars, famines, pestilences plague the world.
He asks himself, “Where is God?”
Personally, I find great comfort in realizing that my understanding of things is extremely limited when it comes to how God works. I find that God’s holy angels, even when in the midst of great battles (Daniel 10), seem to be in perfect control and living in the reality of God’s power over death and hell. (Revelation 20.1-3)
Living in a sin-cursed world (Romans 8.22) and existing in a body tainted by the effects of a fallen nature, we see things through a distorted lens. Paul says that “we see through a glass darkly.” Essentially, that means that we are using a glass that cannot be focused. Whatever we see has been blurred out of focus. It’s similar to how a two year old might view a professional football game. All of the elements are there; however, he has no understanding.
Have you ever thought of the holy angels who are ever present around the throne of God? They have a perfect view of God, the world, and the angelic creatures. They are neither disturbed nor discouraged by world events or how the end will come.
With perfect vision of God on His throne, they respond together in one accord: “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6.3ff)
Oh, if we could only see through a clear glass and catch a glimpse of the Sovereign of all creation as He rules the universe from His throne and to understand His purpose.
Copyright © 2024 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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