Two years ago, my grandpa died at the ripe old age of 90. Over those 90 years, he served in the Navy, raised 6 children, was married for 68 years, and worked as the post master at the local post office. In 90 years I’m sure he saw some amazing things, as well as many hardships and trials.
But toward the end of his life, he suffered from macular degeneration, a disease of the eye that makes seeing difficult and blurry. Watching sports and Jeopardy on TV became less enjoyable for him. And his hobby of collecting coins was virtually impossible.
No matter how well we see on this earth, we are always only seeing a part of what is to come. For believers and worshippers of Jesus, we see only a tiny picture of our Lord.
I’ve been reading a book about worshipping God since singing on the worship team at my church is one of my favorite things to do. It’s by worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman. The book is The Unquenchable Worshipper.
In the book, Redman points out that the more we worship God, the more unsatisfied we are likely to feel. Sure, we are filled by the Spirit when we spend time worshipping God. Because Jesus came and gave us the gift of the Spirit, now “Rivers of living water will flow from our hearts” (John 7:38, NLT). We know that the living water of Jesus is eternal; only Jesus can satisfy our souls.
But we are unsatisfied because we see only a glimpse of the glory of God here on earth. We “taste and see that the Lord is good,” and we want more and more of Him (Psalm 34:8, NIV).
Redman wrote, “We see only in part, yet what we see is enough to give us hope and purpose on our journey.” In worship we experience a taste of God’s glory that ushers us into our earthly version of what the throne room of God must be like. We are an example of the goodness of God when we worship Him in Spirit and truth. We demonstrate the worthiness of God when we come to Him with our whole hearts. We know that the best is yet to come.
Even though we see only in part, what we see is amazing. I think our human minds can only take in so much of God at a time. Just like when Moses was only allowed to see the back of God as He passed by, we see only a glimpse.
Oh, but that glimpse is wonderful! As the old hymn states, “Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!” (Blessed Assurance).
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” -1 Corinthians 13:12.
I read these words at my grandpa’s funeral. Grandpa is now seeing clearly, both with his eyes and with his heart, as he beholds the glory of Jesus in paradise.
Here on this earth, we see only a glimpse of so many things. We see only a glimpse of what the future might hold. We see only a flicker of the adults our children might become. But with God, we know that He is good. We can trust Him for what we cannot see, knowing one day we will see face to face.
