The Perils of Politics
For example, there’s now an electron microscope priced at $27 million—with the ability to make images to a resolution of half the width of a hydrogen atom.
A new $8.8 billion space telescope is scheduled to launch in 2018—and it’s credited with being 100 times more potent than Hubble.
As for the ability to see and learn statistics and relevant knowledge on virtually any topic over the last 25 years, the Information Age through the worldwide web has brought loads of data to our vision at the click of a few keystrokes. Now, some say that era is currently giving way to the “Experience Age”—a new phase once again based on high visibility, this time attained by mobile connectivity and revolutionary progress made in camera technology.
Surely there’s no doubt that it’s a great blessing to see the physical realm as accurately as possible and to have ready access to accurate information. Yet how much more valuable it is to have spiritual eyesight: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of [God’s] calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:18–23).
In this issue of The Reformation Herald, we will consider the importance of how both individually and collectively we are to look not to things seen—but rather to things unseen, those things which are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Through Scripture we have access to hidden truths unveiled through prophecy. We also gain insight to distinguish the level of trustworthy reliability surrounding us, for Jesus has said we are to know people by their fruits (Matthew 7:20). Above all, through God’s word, we can see the specifics of our own spiritual defects, especially as we purchase and apply the eyesalve for sale by the True Witness to the Laodiceans: “The eyesalve is that spiritual discernment which will enable you to see the wiles of Satan and shun them, to detect sin and abhor it, to see truth and obey it.”1
By faith, we can see our omnipotent Mediator pleading in our behalf in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary—helping all who earnestly take hold of His strength to be overcomers. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:12, 13).
“All who are actively engaged in the cause of God, seeking to unveil the deceptions of the evil one and to present Christ before the people, will be able to join in the testimony of Paul, in which he speaks of serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears and temptations.
“Satan assailed Christ with his fiercest and most subtle temptations, but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those battles were fought in our behalf; those victories make it possible for us to conquer. Christ will give strength to all who seek it.”2
May this be what we’re looking for. Amen!