Our Obsession with the Obvious

While walking around the living room with my 11-month-old daughter in my arms, I turned and began to walk toward the front door when my eye caught a shimmer of light coming through the peep hole. It seemed as if she saw it, too, so we went to check it out. I first looked out through the portal to see a beautiful sunshiny day, with green trees and a freshly trimmed lawn.

Then, I pointed out the looking glass to my daughter. She was instantly obsessed with the hole in the door. She began, with wonder, to poke her tiny finger into the hole, and then she looked at me with her sweet toothy grin. It was something she had never played with before. She really enjoyed poking and playing with the newfound hole in our front door.

I then placed her head up to the hole to show her the view and thus the real purpose for the hole’s existence. She drew her head backwards and then continued with her fingers to play with the hole in the door. After a few tries to get her to look through the hole in the door rather than just toying with the obvious existence left us both a little frustrated, we went about playing inside the house until our lives were consumed with other simple items to pass the afternoon.

It was at this time that my eyes were opened to a truth I hope will continue to change my outlook on both the natural world we live in as well as the spiritual world we desire to explore.

How many times do we become obsessed with the obvious things of life when the Lord is desperately trying to move our eyes to a place where we can see things outside of our direct place in this world?

I am convinced that most people live in the realm of the obvious.

Our lives are a series of predictable repetitions. Our friendships tend to be superficial even when we claim to have known people for many years. Our relationship with the Lord, for most people, consists of a ritualistic set of actions that have been learned and perfected to the point we do not have to engage our mind or emotions to look as if we are involved.

We have become obsessed with the obvious.

Worship to most is a song, a repetitive series of words, a clapping of the hands, perhaps the lifting of the arms into the air, or the utterance of words fitting for the occasion. We find ourselves obsessed with the obvious mechanical reciprocations of worship, when true worship will lead us beyond the mechanics and the obvious and into the Shekinah Glory of God himself.

The time we set aside for communication with the Creator is ruled by the obsession of our schedule which always prohibits us from seeing the greater realms of the heavens, and again we find ourselves simply settling for the obvious.

In my life these thoughts touch many areas of the obvious. I have learned to be content with much less of God than he is comfortable with. I choose to be satisfied with the things that I can understand, rather than allow for him to show me into places I cannot go by myself.

I find that simply going through the motions of the obvious leads me to predictable ends. I know how prayer meetings will go, I know how my song will go forth, and I know before I begin what my sermon will produce. My reciprocated actions within the obvious have a way of predicting the results of my simple obsession.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1Co 2:1-16)

I would to God that I could consistently see beyond the simplicity of the obvious. I am weary of being considered according to man’s wisdom. I want to see beyond the ordinary to exist in the realm where the demonstration of the Spirit and of power is normal for consideration.

I remember as we went through this time of discovery that afternoon in my living room, I realized clearly what my daughter missed out on; but greater than that – I realized that I had been obsessed with the obvious in my relationships, my ministry, and my walk with the Lord.

I discovered that the world we live in will do a great job of keeping us busy with the obvious things of life.

We must somehow catch the vision beyond the door. Then, and only then, can we see things God is willing to reveal to us by the spirit - the things only the Holy Ghost can teach.

Oh, that we would partake of things promised, things found only beyond the door that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jer 33:3)

.