See Revival: A 10-day Journey with Geoffrey GoldenSample

Eyes Wide Open

I remember getting on an airplane during a storm a few years ago. The weather wasn’t bad enough to delay the trip, but it was a serious storm nonetheless – dark gray clouds, heavy rains, and strong winds. As we lifted off from the runway and began to ascend, the plane rocked with turbulence. The higher we rose and the closer we got to those storm clouds, the greater the shaking became. Finally we were right in the midst of the storm and could see nothing above or below. But something incredible happened as we emerged above the clouds. The turbulence ceased, and our perspective changed. No longer was the sky gray. Now that we were above the clouds, we were flying under a bright blue sky. The storm was beneath us, and a golden sun was over our heads.

The truth is, family, there is a reality that many of us cannot see. Though the world is so often dark, gloomy, and gray, there is a truth that transcends the turbulence, a life above the storm clouds. It is the reality of God. It is the reality of who God is and who we are in Him through our allegiance to and relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul prayed for the Church at Ephesus that their eyes would be open to their new reality in Christ. He prayed that they would be able to see from a new perspective. Paul asks God to give the Church “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better,” (Ephesians 1:17). In this new reality, it’s all about relationship and fellowship with the Father and the Son. Our life is knowing Him! 

Further, Paul asks God to open the eyes of the believers’ hearts, so that we would know our hope in Christ, the glorious inheritance we have in Him, and His supremely great power at work in us. In fact, this is the same power with which God “raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,” (Eph. 1:20). And what’s more, the power of God in Christ has seated Him above all other powers in the universe, both human and angelic! We already have hope, inheritance, and great power in God because of the lordship of Jesus Christ, the one who died and rose for us! All we have to do now is see it!

But it gets even better. The apostle tells the Ephesian Church that “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” (Eph. 2:6). Not only is Jesus Christ seated above all all other powers, but we too are seated above all other powers with and in Him! If you ever doubted your worth or questioned your value to God, hear the Holy Spirit: you are HIS, and you are treasured by Him. Your past does not define you and your mistakes cannot hold you back. Your life is hidden with Jesus (Col. 3:3).

You’re a citizen of heaven now. You have a seat in Christ above the clouds. So no matter what you’re facing today, no matter what storms you are going through, no matter the perils and troubles of the world around you, I encourage you to get on the plane and lift off. Let the eyes of your heart rise above the clouds of fear and distraction. See the Son that sits above the storm. See the heavenly seat that is yours in Him. Sit down, buckle up, and lean back in this new God-given perspective of your life. It’s going to be an amazing ride!

Listen to the song wherever you find music!