The fall ushers in a new season. A season filled with beautiful orange, yellow, red and green foliage. A season of leaves changing colors and slowly drifting from the branches of the trees landing softly on the lawns and pavements. A season of pumpkins… pumpkin pies and lattes. A season of cooler temperatures allowing our air conditioners to get needed rest. Witnessing the rainbow of colors and all the changes that fall brings requires us to open our eyes to the newness of this season.

Sometimes we miss so much when God brings newness into our lives. We fail to see what others see or what He wants us to see. This happened in the story of Elisha when the king of Aram warred against Israel and sent horses and chariots and a great army to circle the city. Elisha’s servant cried out in despair as he looked upon the great army. Elisha answered in 2 Kings 6:16-17. “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This reminded me of the movie, Field of Dreams. The story centered around a man, played by Kevin Costner, who owned a farm with a cornfield. Based on a vision, he built a baseball field in the middle of his cornfield. He offered no reason for building it; he just knew he had to do it. After he built it, players showed up. Not ordinary players, but great players from the past. But when the neighbors came to see, their eyes failed to see what the farmer saw which didn’t help his case at all. The neighbors viewed him as a lunatic. Their eyes were not wide open. But the farmer’s eyes opened because he did it…he built the field. The joy he felt by seeing and interacting with the players superseded all the ridicule, and he saw what others couldn’t see.

This fictional movie presented a recent spiritual application for me. The LORD told me to “build the play, “Covered…”. He told me to do it. Initially I convinced myself why I shouldn’t do it even though writing and producing plays posed no problem. But He asked me to build the play (field) outside the walls of the church. It made no sense to me since I lacked the financial, people, expertise, or safety resources of the church. This required a lot of risk and possible ridicule if I failed.

He even confirmed the vision through others. They told me the impact it would make on people’s lives. They saw how the play would reach individuals outside of the church walls. They saw the play delivered to any ethnic group due to the message and issues faced by everyone. They saw how words made positive or negative impacts on different relationships. They saw how lives could be changed for the better. They saw with eyes wide open.

But why did I not see? Because I needed to step out on faith to see. I needed to do what He told me to do to see what He wanted me to see. He instructed me to do it and I just needed to be obedient. My eyes needed to be opened. Once I obeyed, like Elisha’s servant, the L0RD opened my eyes and allowed me to see what others saw. But I had to risk fear of failure and ridicule for His purposes.

I am so glad I did. Because of this experience, I will be more apt to quickly go where He says go and do what He says do so I can see with eyes wide open what He reveals to me.

I don’t know about you, but I wish to see what He wants me to see. To do so requires obedience that supersedes human reasoning, risk of failure and ridicule. Determining the why remains unimportant; being obedient allows me to come into His presence with eyes wide open to all He will reveal to me and bask in the greatness of His glory. Why? Simply…

Eyes Wide Open