Dimmed vision

Dave Jackson

The shepherds' attention was captured by a choir of angels, and the Magi were attracted by a great cosmic display. Maybe we would have taken notice of headlines in the sky like that.

But not everyone required such dramatic announcements. Simeon and Anna recognized the Salvation of the Lord with only the prompting of the Spirit when they saw the baby Jesus being consecrated in the Temple.

When I try to imagine God, I usually think of a scene like the one Isaiah reported in Isaiah 6: fire and smoke, six winged seraphs, and the Almighty, high and lifted up. And when I think of Christ's coming again, it is with great power and glory.

I think I'm like most of those in Israel, who could not recognize Immanuel in a helpless baby, a poor carpenter's son, a commoner from Nazareth. The reason I fear that I'm like so many others during New Testament times is because I miss Him today. If He keeps His promise to be in the midst of two or three gathered in His name (and I believe by faith that He does), then I frequently ignore Him in that humble setting. I believe He is always with us as He promised, but I often feel alone.

We usually think vision dims with age, but must I wait until I am a very old man to say, "My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people?" (Luke 2:30-31).

Dave and Neta Jackson of Evanston, Ill. are the authors of many books, including the Trailblazer series of historical fiction about great Christian heroes.