“Nana, do you see the moon?” It was midday, and Connor and I were walking the dog. I squinted up in the direction he was pointing. “Wow, Connor, that was good! I did not see the moon until you pointed it out,” I replied. He looked at me from the top of his eyes (as if to say, “Silly Nana…”) and said very seriously, “I have little eyes. I can see big things.”

From the mouths of babes. I began to ponder why my big eyes can’t always see big things.

Am I focused on the wrong thing?

Am I too distracted to notice things around me?

Does my immediate perspective of my circumstances alter what I actually see?

Does God speak through moons and clouds to the littlest ones because they are more open to it than adults?

Take a look at verse 18 in this scripture from the Apostle Paul:

Ephesians 1 New International Version (NIV)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

You see, that’s the thing. My eyes aren’t focused on the hope. My eyes aren’t focused on the glorious inheritance we have through Christ. And my eyes certainly aren’t seeing the incomparably great power of Christ. This scripture calls me out because it is showing me what I should be looking at: Christ’s rule, authority, power, and dominion over every earthly thing.

I wasn’t able to see the moon that day, because I was ruminating on the hatred and the anger I see every time I open my iPad and look at social media. I couldn’t cast my eyes upward to the heavens because I was visualizing an email I stumbled upon that was extremely hurtful. And over a year old. (Why had I saved it??) I couldn’t see God’s hope because I was recalling a conversation with a friend who has opposing political opinions to my own, and I was wishing I didn’t know that about her. And I’m sure she feels the same way.

Paul reminds us today that Christ has AUTHORITY AND RULE over all that nonsense. Christ’s power far surpasses any earthly realm in which we find ourselves each day. When Christ comes again, none of it will matter or even be remembered.

So look at the moon today, and remember the ONE who put it there for your benefit. He who fills everything in every way is coming back to take you to himself. Whatever you are looking at right now will all pass away, if you would just look up.

Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord.

Photo by Michelle Robertson