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One year ago, today, I started this blog called ‘The Best View in Town’. On November 1st 2015 I had about six ideas written out. They became my first six weekly blog posts. After that it was a mixture of fear, prayer, excitement and hard work to consistently have something to offer by the time the next Monday came around. Each time the Lord helped me and each time different ones of you took the time to read, comment on and share what I had written. Thank you for that. You’ll never know just how encouraging that has been.
My goal from the beginning has been to help people have #TheBestViewInTown. (You can find all my posts and related media by searching this hashtag) Maybe you don’t know what I mean by that? Having the best view in town isn’t so much about what you are seeing but about how you see it. How do you view things? I find that when we fix our eyes on the Lord, no matter how challenging our surroundings or circumstances, hope can come in as we consider Him who is for us and not against us. I believe having the best view in town is about maintaining a high view of God even in the midst of hurt and pain. Jesus set the ultimate example by focusing ‘on the joy set before Him’. This enabled Him to ‘endure the cross and scorn its shame.’ (Hebrews 12) He saw the ultimate plan of the Father. He knew God’s love to a depth and degree that no one else ever has and yet He was bearing the weight of every sin that had ever or would ever be committed. How do you endure in the midst of such agony? You fix your eyes on the Author and the Finisher of your faith. Fixed eyes. Fixated on the One who loves you and formed you in your Mother’s womb. This is how you overcome. When Peter had His eyes on The One, the wind and waves were of no concern. When he took His eyes off of The One, he was overwhelmed by the storm around him. Consequently, he was in the same storm in both scenarios. In one he had the best view in town. In the other, he settled for the chaos around him. Same storm, different view. (Click Here To Read My Post ‘Do You Trust God Enough To Rest?)
In his book ‘The Knowledge of the Holy’, A.W. Tozer said that ‘a low view of God has been the biggest problem in the Church in every generation.’ A low view of God. How is it that we so easily allow the King of All the Earth to be viewed as selfish or confused or disinterested in our needs when He offered up His only Son as the only way to save us from OURSELVES?! This God who loves you had bankrupt heaven for you to be saved, set free, delivered, and living the abundant life that He gives both now and for eternity. Yet, so often we exalt our problems and diminish His power and love. How often do we talk about our problems with our friends and how seldom do we grip hands together and confess God’s might and power over our needs? You were made to live with joy in your heart and hope in your spirit. It was purchased for you by the man, Jesus, on the cross. That joy and hope is available at all times and to all people. It is available in the Emergency Room. It is available at the divorce lawyer’s office. It is available while you seek shelter under a bridge at night. It is available as you celebrate 50 years of marriage on a sunset cruise. You can have The Best View In Town from right where you are standing, right now. NOTHING has to change for your view to change. But if you allow your view to change, everything can change. To quote Tozer once more, “You always know that you are losing altitude when things begin to get big.” [Worship: The Purpose of Man] Don’t allow the things around you to ‘get big’ in your heart and mind. Allow the God who loves you to be ‘made big’ and magnify Him. (Click Here To Read My Post ‘Don’t Do The Devil’s Job For Him’)
As the old saying goes ‘I do not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.’ I can not say, for sure, what this next year will look like for me or for you, but I am determined to keep my eyes on The One who loves me with an everlasting love. What about you? Keep your eyes on Jesus and you’ll be one of the first to see His Kingdom Come. God is for you today and so am I. (Click Here To See My Video On Having The Best View in Town)
…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrew 12:1b-2 NIV
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus… – Ephesians 2:6 NIV
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