How Far Can You See?

By Alan Smith

    Sam, an old man, was a witness in a burglary case.  The defense lawyer asked Sam, "Did you see my client commit this burglary?"
    "Yes," said Sam , "I saw him plainly take the goods."
    The lawyer asked Sam again, "Sam, this happened at night.  Are you sure you saw my client commit this crime?"
    "Yes" said Sam, "I saw him do it."
    Then the lawyer asked Sam, "Sam listen, you are 80 years old and your eyesight probably is bad.  Just how far can you see at night?"
    Sam said, "I can see the moon, how far is that?"
    Now I'm not prepared to discuss the validity of such a statement in court.  But this story does serve as a reminder that some people are content to be concerned with what they can see up close and forget what they can see from afar.  For example, it is a common sight to see someone walking along with their eyes focused only on the ground a few feet in front of them.  They end up seeing all sorts of things -- coins, buttons, pieces of trash.  But they miss out on all the beauty of the world around them.
    And yet we all tend to do the same thing spiritually.  We keep our eyes on television ads, store displays and our next door neighbors and focus on all the "things" we think we need, and fail to see the spiritual things that really matter.  I challenge you to walk through a shopping mall and look not in the store windows, but at the number of souls you pass by who need Jesus.  I challenge you to drive through a busy part of town without focusing on the Lexuses in front of you and behind you, but on the physical and spiritual needs of the people to your right and your left.  I challenge you to look beyond the things of this world to those things on a higher plane.
    "Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above -- where Christ holds the highest position.  Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things." (Colossians 3:1-2)
    How far can YOU see?
    Have a great day!

- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For Today," and minister for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC, may be contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com