“20-20 VISION IN 2020!”
PHILIPPIANS 3:4-14
David P. Nolte
A couple of years ago, I had cataracts removed. The doctor offered 3 options.
1. He could put a lens in one eye for seeing near items and for reading and in the other eye a lens suited for distant objects like road signs and traffic signals.
2. He could put a flexible lens in each eye which would focus to match distance just like our normal eyes. Too expensive.
3. He could put a lens in each eye to see at a distance and then I’d use reading glasses for the computer and other texts. The last option worked for me and the doctor said I have 20-20 vision.
As Christians we need the cataracts of remorse, guilt, fear and other negatives removed so that we might have 20-20 Vision in 20-20.
The apostle Paul gives us his vision for life. He wrote, “If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:4-14 (NASB). Paul suggests to me
I. 20-20 HINDSIGHT:
A. Looking back, Paul noted his former claim to fame: In three particulars he :how he "might have confidence in the flesh"
1. His pure Jewish blood.
2. His place in the party of the pharisees, his blameless behavior and his enviable status as such.
3. His zeal for the law. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
B. But he was not so rooted in the past that he failed to recognize the relative insignificance of those boasts compared to Jesus. His hindsight was 20-20 and he saw clearly from whence he came to where he was at that moment.
1. Like Paul we should consider the past, but without getting hung up on it, do our best in the present and determine to keep moving forward to our future.
2. We ought to live as if this were our last hour and to plan as if we were guaranteed 1,000 years.
3. While living in the here-and-now, let us not be so caught up in the immediate fulfillment that we forfeit the ultimate fulfillment.
a. Don’t be like Esau who forfeited his ultimate position of the first-born son for a bowl of soup to sate his hunger. His birthright was the price he paid for that soup! And it wasn’t even Campbells!
b. We can also learn from David who seized immediate sexual pleasure with his neighbor, Bathsheba, and suffered for it. For immediate pleasure he forfeited God’s best blessing.
C. If we have received Jesus and have been given new life, let a boy about 11 years old teach us something about hindsight. He was adopted and taken out of a pitiful homeless situation. He came into the new home in ragged, dirty clothing. After being cleaned up and shown gentle affection, he put those clothes under the mattress of his new bed. One day his new mother came into his room and saw him holding those clothes and weeping. She asked him, “Bobby, why do you still have those old clothes and why are you crying so?” He said, “I just kept them to remind me because I don’t want to forget what you did for me when I wore them.” He had the hindsight to appreciate from where he came to where he was at present.
D. Look Back occasionally and
1. See the mistakes you made and remember the lessons they taught you about thinking twice and acting once without remorse or regret.
2. See the sins He has forgiven you and remember the lessons they taught you about the pain and guilt they brought and the grace of God to forgive you. .
3. See the blessings He bestowed and remember the lessons they taught you about not worrying but trusting Him and His gracious generosity to provide.
4. See the death of so many loved ones and remember the lessons that taught you about the fragility of life and the need to do what needs doing while you can.
E. We need 20-20 hindsight so that we might have something to
1. Stir us up to better choices, better relationships, better faith, better behavior and better service to Christ and His church.
2. See that God was there helping, providing, forgiving and that He is still involved in our lives.
When we have a healthy, 20-20 hindsight, we will also develop a healthy
II. 20-20 INSIGHT:
A. “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
1. He had insight, perception and savvy to know what mattered most and what did not matter as much or what didn’t matter at all.
2. He had insight as to what to forget and what to remember; what to eschew and what to embrace.
3. He had insight to see the vastly superior value of knowing and being in Christ above all other things.
B. May God grant us that kind of insight. May we see clearly
1. What attitudes to cast away.
2. What relationships to end.
3. What activities to forsake
4. What choices to make.
5. What good things we need to do.
6. What values and goals to pursue.
C. James has good advice when it comes to gaining insight: “But if any of you lacks insight, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NASB).
D. Paul had the insight to see clearly what mattered not only for time but for eternity.
E. There's a story about a proud young man who came to a rabbi well known for his wisdom and understanding. He walked up to the rabbi and said, "O great teacher, I come to you for insight." The rabbi recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one.
He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. He put his strong hands on the young man's shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later The rabbi let him up. "What do you want?" he asked again. "Insight," the young man sputtered, "O great and wise The rabbi."
The rabbi pushed him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. The rabbi let him up. The man was gasping. "What do you want, young man?" Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, "Insight, O wise and wonderful rabbi."
The rabbi jammed him under again. Forty seconds passed. Fifty. A full minute passed before he then brought the struggling young man up. "What do you want?" "Air!" the young man screeched. "I need air!"
“When you want Insight as much as you have just wanted air, then you will have Insight." And so, we all need to desire 20-20 insight. Hindsight and Insight work together to help us develop
III. 20-20 FORESIGHT:
A. Paul learned from the past, he kept his values and conduct straight in the present and lived each day with a hope for the future of
1. Gaining Christ, knowing Him and being found in Him.
2. Obtaining righteousness not of works but of faith.
3. Reaching the goal God had set for him.
4. Attaining to his future resurrection into eternal life.
B. Without being overly mystical or other-worldly, Paul kept he eye on the race before him and headed single-mindedly to the finish line.
C. He knew how to keep the past, present and future in balance.
1. He had the hindsight to value the past and remember the memorable.
2. He had the insight to act in the present, to carpe diem, to stay focused.
3. He had the foresight to prepare for the future.
D. If people had more foresight,
1. There would be a lot fewer alcoholics and drug addicts.
2. There would be a lot fewer painful consequences to bad choices.
3. There would be a lot fewer broken marriages, friendships and other relationships.
4. There would be a lot more peace , joy and hope.
5. There would be a lot more positive, desirable results to our efforts.
6. There would be a lot more obedience to what God commands in the New Testament.
E. A lion decided it would be easier to have his meals delivered rather than to go out on the hunt. He devised a plan where he would invite to his cave the desired cuisine. In front of the cave he posted signs like, “Come on in for a free, home cooked meal.” or “free lunch for the jungle bunch.” One day a wildebeest strolled by and stopped to read the sign.
The lion, in dulcet, inviting tones said, “Hello, my good friend, please come in for a free meal and let’s enjoy a visit.”
Having keen, 20-20 foresight, the wildebeest said, “I think not! I see several sets of tracks going into your cave but not a single track coming back out.”
Look before you leap. Think before you act. Consider before you commit. Use your 20-20 hindsight along with hour 20-20 insight to develop 20-20 foresight.
When all’s been said and done
There’s really only One
To follow down the winding path of life.
He knows what’s in my past ,
And where I am at last.
And He will lead me safely ‘round each bend.
For Christ alone can see
What’s there ahead for me
So I’ll follow Him wherever He may lead.
He takes me by the hand
He enables me to stand
Until the day I reach my Heavenly home.
What’s in your past? He can take care of all the stuff that haunts you
What’s troubling you today? He can give you victory over the sin and failure.
What is your concern or your desire for tomorrow? Consign it to Him for the right, best, and fulfilling outcome.
Jesus I come.
