I thought my windshield was clean. There were no squashed bugs or bird droppings on it but when a low sun came blaring in I was blind. An almost invisible film on the inside flared light all over the place. I was afraid to put on my brakes lest the car behind me had the same experience and would not see my brake lights. Fortunately the road was curving and a second later the angle of the sun changed and I was all right again.
In I Corinthians 13 Paul tells us we see through a glass darkly. We think we understand. We think we see. We think there isn’t anything getting in our way. But we are so limited we don’t know we are limited. I have students who think they know but they don’t. Their background and experience is so limited they don’t know what they don’t know. Thus they think they know. I thought I could see through that windshield. I didn’t know the almost invisible film was there.
In Mark 9 a frantic father most anxious for his son’s well-being said to Jesus, “Help my unbelief.” My prayer needs to be, “Help, my ignorance.” There is so much I don’t see. I have no understanding of the Trinity. I don’t understand what resurrection morning means after our bodies have totally decayed. I don’t understand how one man’s righteousness can wipe away the horror of our sins. I do not begin to grasp the immensity of God’s universe and His care for us. How can God be everywhere at once and yet be on His throne? My list of “I don’t knows” can go on and on.
I am quite reduced to faith. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. I see very little.
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 12, 2009
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
rogerbothwell.org