Fix our eyes on Jesus, see the big picture.....

12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 [a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [b]author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-3

In the ancient Jewish times it is said that the Jewish people were picture people. Which explains why as you read the texts why Jesus chose to appeal to them with word pictures. In many ways modern man is the same way.  We want to believe, but we want to be shown why we should believe. Show me God why I should leave what I am doing and follow you. Help me see the big picture.  

People from every walk of life, I believe, want hope for their lives which explains why many of us strive to do good things through out our lives. Good works tends to be our insurance policy so we can tell God to see what great works I have done and surely I am good enough to make it into heaven.  I have this mental image of all of us riding individual elevators toward heaven. The height you go in your individual elevator is determined by the number of good works you do in this life. The problem becomes when you fall just short of the standard set by God such as the words of Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".  Imagine, if you will, the horror if at the end of your life none of your good works were good enough to get you into heaven? The awards you accumulated, the promotions you received and  the church positions you held all were not good enough?

The good news is that God made a provision by sending his son into the world who became the perfect sacrifice to satisfy all of the requirements to enter into heaven. Through Jesus Christ a single door was provided that enabled everyone to pass through without any justification of their own perfection. What is more God knew that we are picture people and when the gospels were written Jesus spoke to us in word pictures so that we will be able to  see.  

In Mary Beth Chapman's book entitled 'Choosing to see' the author writes about a picture that her daughter drew just months before her untimely death that she believe was her daughter reminding her to 'see' the big picture of heaven.  Our family had that similar reminder when our daughter drew a picture of herself looking down on the rest of us just weeks before her untimely death.

I was told in response to my question 'how do we share Christ to a Muslin' to share the word of God through your dreams.  Muslin people are no different from the rest of us in that they are picture people and want to 'see' why they should believe. 

Lastly, I have this mental picture in my mind that heaven is going to be filled with people from all nationalities.  God wants no one to perish.  He wants us to fix our eyes and 'see'Jesus as we read the gospels. I hope this Ray Vanderlaan video will help you see the the gospels in a new light.