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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 4, NUMBER 42, OCTOBER 17, 2004 OBSCURING THE VIEW Late last Tuesday afternoon I was driving home from Mt. Vernon, Kentucky on I-75. There is road construction taking place just a bit north of the Mt. Vernon exit. They are increasing that stretch of highway from two to three lanes, as well as adding those permanent concrete barriers. As I was driving through the construction area the rain was pouring down, and I noticed a cloud of some sort up ahead. As I got closer to the cloud, I discovered that it was where they were pouring hot blacktop. As the cold rain hit that hot asphalt it created a cloud of smoke that was incredibly thick. I thought that the cloud would be the consistency of fog, until I got in it. I could not see the end of my truck, much less the road. It was one of the few times I was actually frightened driving. I could not see ahead of me, and I knew no one coming up behind me would be able to see it either. That smoke, so unexpected, obscured my view of where I was going. I always want to know where I am going. I want to be able to see ahead of me. That is certainly true from a physical standpoint and for me, it is even more true from the spiritual standpoint. I want to be able to see where I am going. It brings to mind Hebrews 12:1-2, where the Hebrew writer wrote, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I need to keep my eyes fastened firmly and resolutely upon Jesus, and if I do, I will make it to my eternal destination of choice. There are things however that can come up unexpectedly and obscure the view. In the parable of the Sower, the Lord spoke of just such occurrences. In Luke 8:12-14, He said, “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” In each case the Lord is describing people whose spiritual view was obscured for some reason or another. Some very early in their spiritual progression allow Satan to cloud their view and they lose sight, even before they get started, of the only destination where eternal life is to be found and they lose sight of the only One who can show them the way. Others begin the walk and seem to be on fire for a time. The Lord described them as having “received the word with joy.” Then temptation rears its ugly head, obscuring their view, and they don’t have the fortitude to keep on going. They turn back. When I was in the midst of that cloud, I figured if I was going to get hit I was going to get hit from behind, because I was not about to turn around. It has got to be the same way spiritually. We cannot turn around, because it is certain that that will cause us to get hit head-on. If we keep on going, we may get bumped from behind, but we are still going to be ahead. Still others embark on the journey to heaven with their eyes on the Lord, and then life hits them. It can happen unexpectedly and in so many different way. I have known people who lost a job, fell into a terrible financial mess, and blamed it on the Lord. They lost sight of Jesus. On the other hand, I have known people who became very successful at work, started to focus on the riches of this world, and they lost sight of what was truly important. Things obscured their view. I have known people who have focused their eyes upon a man or woman other than their spouse, and for the fleeting pleasure that would bring, they lost sight of eternity and what was truly important. I couldn’t see anything in that cloud and I was scared. But I’ll tell you something, I had not lost sight of Jesus. So even if some eighteen wheeler had come barreling through that cloud and run completely over me and my little truck, it just would have meant that my journey ended sooner than I thought it was going to end. I believe I would be in Paradise right now and wouldn’t come back even if I could. Being in that cloud was frightening, but it doesn’t begin to compare with those who have lost sight of Jesus. Such a person goes through life alone and doesn’t even know it until a crisis comes, until the chips are down and it is just me and eternity. While my eyes are open in this life – Jesus is what I want to be looking at. When my eyes close for the last time and I have drawn my last breath, I want to be looking at Jesus. With God’s help, I will let nothing obscure the view. Greg Litmer
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