August 19: Magic Eye

My friend Charlie tells the story of going to the shopping mall one day with his family. A crowd had gathered around a small kiosk and everyone seemed very excited about what they were seeing. His curiosity was aroused so Charlie went to see what was capturing the interest of so many people.

There were many large frames on display and the pictures seemed to be nothing more than colored dots. Exclamations of “I see it” and disgusted statements of “I don’t see anything” by people moving away certainly increased his interest. He began to stare at those pictures, allowing his eyes to relax and cross slightly, and right before his eyes the dots and swirls were transformed into three-dimensional pictures of various subjects. It was great! He was looking at a “3-D illusion”.

Magic Eye artwork is fascinating for those who are patient and focused, or unfocused as the case may be. The dots, for some, present a very clear picture, but for others only frustration and disappointment.

There are many people for whom the Bible might as well be a "Magic Eye" painting. Some people read the Bible, focus on its message, and become overjoyed by what they discover. Others will pick up a Bible in a hotel room or bookstore, flip through the pages for a few moments and then with irritation put it back and wonder why others get so excited about it.

"This is a stupid old book of myths and old wives tales", they say. The sad part is they feel that those who do find value in it message, and truth in its teachings, are somehow defective, unintelligent, or backward. The skeptics have eyes with which to see, but no heart to believe. Perhaps from previous conditioning or past pain, they are unable to embrace the message or the Author.

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We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths to spiritual people. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to them, and they cannot understand them, because these things are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)

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~ Father, if you are real I want to know you. Give me spiritual eyes to see the Truth and make a correct appraisal of those things which are of infinite and eternal value. Amen.