Big Picture

This is my version of the moment from Ferris Buller's Day Off when the crew is looking down from the top of the Sears Tower. Yes, this one is taken in Chicago. But it is only from a dear friend's ninth floor apartment. His apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows that have a beautiful view of Evanston, Illinois. A better shot of the view is below.

What came to me this morning as I woke to the view was God's big picture. From the story of creation to the end of Revelation, we are reminded of God's view time and again. How that all works is definitely still a mystery but Scripture affirms this from start to finish. In Psalm 147:5, we read “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” Isaiah 47:28 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” Job 28:24 says, “For God looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.” These are just a few. Again, it is a mystery how it all works, but that is the affirmation I hold to as a follower of Jesus.

I had a personal experience of this a few days ago when a dear brother called me while he was in Corinth while on a trip to Greece. He was standing at a place that could have been where St. Paul himself walked. My friend described what he was seeing around him and how while he was there, he had a deep feeling he needed to call me to share these words from the first half of 1 Corinthians 1:17 - “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel.” He said that he didn’t know why he needed to share that but he needed to. He then said that we’ll talk more when he gets back since he was calling on international rates.

I have to say, that encouragement made a huge difference for me - I am still discerning where God’s path is for me going forward and it was a beautiful reminder to me of the “Big Picture” call that God has on my life - God has gifted me for this work and God will provide what is to come. Once again, God’s got this.