See For Yourself

I’ve always considered myself to be an observant person. I notice details, like car color and make, placement of various décor, and general background. So it surprised me when I drove past the Dickson City Park the other day.

You see, on Easter, I joined some friends for an afternoon of good food and pleasant conversation. One of the ladies was talking about this particular park, and, “Yes, I think that’s at the top of my street,” I said.

“The one with the basketball court and tennis courts,” she said.

No. There’s no basketball or tennis there, just a baseball diamond and a playground. This went round and round like a rusty merry-go-round. I was sure I was right, and she was sure she was. There was no animosity or raised voices and we eventually just went on with the conversation.

But I drove past the park and she was right.

So how can someone who is as observant as I consider myself to be miss something so obvious?

We tend to see what we expect to see. This was an overriding characteristic of the Jewish people presented with the Man Jesus. They saw a carpenter’s son, not realizing He was fully God and fully Man. They saw a man with a following who was neither rabbi nor a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling class, not the Creator of the universe who knows all things. They saw a man who was neither soldier nor politician, and so they could not see how He was going to be their Savior.

That was the state affairs 2000 years ago, but that’s not the case now, is it?

Yes and no, I suppose. Today’s unbelieving world sees the incredible crucifixion and knows it must be false, because it can’t possibly be true. They see Christians who are dirty, rotten sinners and disregard everything we say because we are less than perfect; they don’t understand that we, too, are in need of a Savior. Constantly.

So how do we overcome their objections and arguments? Blasting them is neither Biblical nor helpful. Pointing out all the ways they need to change doesn’t help, either. Standing on street corners? Handing out Bibles?

I believe prayer is first and foremost. And pray believing that God will change their hearts, because He wants that change infinitely more than you or I do! Have open doors where people can come to hear the Truth if they choose, and share the Truth with love and consistency, in Church and outside of it.

That may be as much as we are called to do. Then let them drive passed the park and see for themselves.