Psalm 8
Preached: Mar 7, 2010 - Des Arc First UMC - Nursing Home
Psalm 8: 1 -9
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon
and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are
mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"
After Russell Schweikert? One of our lunar astronauts who flew on
Apollo XI, returned to earth he wrote, "[You see] the earth not as
something big...[but] as a small thing out there. And the contrast
between that bright blue and white Christmas tree ornament and the
black sky, that infinite universe really comes through, and the size
of it, the significance of it is mind blowing.
Our world is so small and fragile and such a precious little
spot in that universe that you can block it out with your thumb, and
you realize that on that small spot, that little blue and white
thing, is everything that means anything to you - all of history,
and music and poetry and art and death and birth and love, all the
tears, joy, games, all of it on that little spot out there that you
can cover with your thumb." It
is all a matter of perspective?
The truth is our lives are lived on the basis of our perspectives.
When we graduate from High School we have a perspective that can no
doubt be described as being on top of the world. And why not? We
celebrate a significant accomplishment. But soon that perspective
changes, and life will be seen through the nervous eyes of a college
freshman or from the bottom rung on the job ladder. We all see
different things at different times - it is all in the perspective.
A wealthy oil baron once commissioned Picasso to paint a portrait of
his wife. When the work was completed, the man was shocked to see
the image that had been created. "Why that looks nothing like my
wife! You should have painted her the way she really is!"
Picasso took a deep breath and said, "I'm not sure what that would
be."
Without hesitation, the man pulled out his wallet and removed a
photograph of his wife saying, "There, you see, this is how she
really is!"
Picasso, bending over, looked at it and replied, "She is rather
small and flat, isn't she?"
Perspective. We find the creator God, making an entire universe out
of nothing but a spoken word. We see God as redeemer in the person
and work of Jesus Christ, God in human flesh. We see God as
sustainer in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. "God in
three persons, Blessed Trinity," as the hymn writer has it. It is
all in the perspective.
What we DO say, will depend upon our perspective. Beyond that, we
can let it go with the words of the Psalmist, "O Lord, our Lord, how
majestic is your name in all the earth!"
Perspective. A man had an awful day at work. Everything had gone
wrong. There was one interruption after another, and he was never
able to complete his work.
When he entered the door at home that evening, he knew that his wife
must have had a similar day. You could see it on her face. So, to
set the process straight, he began. "I have had the worst day of my
life; it's been bad news, bad news, bad news, bad news. I don't know
what kind of a day you've had, but if at all possible, can you share
some good news with me?"
The wife, a thoughtful and loving person, considered his request for
a moment, and then said, "Of course I can. You know we have six
beautiful children, right?" He agreed. "Well," she said, "five of
them didn't break a leg today."
Perspective. From what perspective will you view life today, this
week, this year? It WILL make a difference.
-
Through the eyes of the world, it was another brutal murder in a
brutal existence;
-
through the eyes of faith, it was God so loving the world that he
gave his only son to pay the penalty for our sin.
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It’s all in the perspective.
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Through the eyes of the world, he was another religious fanatic bent
on terrorism;
-
through the eyes of faith, Saul of Tarsus could become the greatest
missionary the church has ever known.
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It’s all in the perspective.
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Through the eyes of the world, those poor and hungry and sick and
imprisoned are a nuisance;
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through the eyes of faith, they are an opportunity to meet Christ.
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It’s all in the perspective.
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Through the eyes of the world, we are too small and powerless to
make a difference;
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through the eyes of faith, we know that when we walk out of here, we
do not walk out alone - we go with each other, and our God goes with
us, and that IS power.
-
It’s all in the perspective.
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Through the eyes of the world, you and I are unbelievably
insignificant - just one of six-billion-plus;
-
through the eyes of faith, we are incredibly important - God knows
us so intimately that even the hairs of our heads are numbered (a
figure that changes by the hour for some of us).
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It’s all in the perspective.
With what eyes will you leave this place this morning? But before
you leave, come to God
That might make a difference.
Remember, it is all in the perspective.
Amen!