Text- Revelation 4:6, 8- “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes; eyes to look ahead, eyes to look behind… They were full of eyes, seeing around and within.”
For some day now, we have been on this series. Thus far, using the living creatures full of eyes as our template, we have talked about three of the four functions of the ‘eyes’,
1. Eyes to look ahead 2. Eyes to look behind 3. Eyes seeing around
As we round off today, we will talk about the fourth – EYES TO SEE WITHIN.
I pointed out to you that while the creatures had eyes to look ahead and behind, Bible says they had eyes to see around and within. Looking takes deliberate action and focus, whereas seeing does not require dedicated attention; you only need to be sensitive and sensible.
When you begin to look within instead of seeing within, you will become egocentric, and prideful. And God Himself resists the proud (James 4:6). But then what does it mean to see within?
The eyes to see within are the eyes of self-discovery and self-awareness. With these eyes, you will be able to know yourself, and identify the deposits of God that are on your inside.
There are at least 7 deposits inside you that you must unravel before you die. You need the eyes to see within to rightly identify them: Your traits, your talents, your abilities, your potentials, your spiritual gifts, your anointing and your calling.
Beyond this, you must recognize your limits, your struggles, your fears, e.t.c
2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG) says, “Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups…”
Apostle Paul caps it all up in Galatians 6:4 “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.”
1. See within – Make a careful exploration of who you are 2. Don’t look within – Don’t be impressed with yourself 3. Don’t look around – Don’t compare yourself with others
PRAYERS
1. Lord, help me to make a careful exploration of who I am and the work I have been given.
2. Lord, grant me grace and humility never to become egocentric or prideful.
3. Lord, help me not to compare myself with others. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, and on the future you have prepared for me.