Page 16 - Central Connection online Magazine2. January 2020 (1)

20/20 Pastor’S Corner

Vision

By Chris Buttery

Our media crew at Sacramento Central is a very special lot. And it’s for more than the very obvious reasons—at time they have to
put up with me! Now I don’t think I’m too difficult to get along with (most of the time!), but I can be a bit particular. I notice when
things aren’t quite right. Like the time I was in the studio monitoring our performance over a few consecutive Sabbaths. I noticed,
via the monitors, that some of the camera shots appeared to be out of focus, so I shared my observations with those responsible.
However, the response I received wasn’t what I expected. No one seemed to believe me. But they would smile and thank me for
sharing my concerns. I thought, “How can I help them see what I am seeing?”

A few months went by and it was well past time for me to visit the eye doctor. My eyes
would burn after several hours of working on the computer. Even reading for an extend-
ed period of time made my eyes tired. During a standard visit I was prescribed glasses.
When I put them on, everything was so much clearer. Frankly, I could see again!
Well, you know the rest of the story. I was back in the studio one Sabbath and I was grate-
ful to see that everyone had finally heard my concern and did something about it. Well,
I thought that for a second. I reluctantly realized that everything had been in focus all
along. What had actually been out of focus were my eyes. You know I had a little humble
pie to eat that day as I confessed my mistake to the team. They were very forgiving!

Not everyone has 20/20 vision. I’m one of them, and perhaps you are too. 20/20 vision is a
term used to express normal visual acuity—the clarity or sharpness of vision—measured at a
distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should nor-
mally be seen at that distance. Having 20/20 vision doesn’t necessarily mean you have perfect
vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance. Isn’t sharp,
clear spiritual insight needed as we enter this new decade? Don’t we each need 20/20 vision
in the year 2020? If we’re honest about our present reality on planet earth we know the line
has been blurred between right and wrong, truth and error for a long time. It’s becoming
harder to discern between fact and fiction. People today have lost sight of their spiritual roots
and have instead accepted murky theories and philosophies of origins. The quest for fame,
fortune, and power blind many to the tragedies that lurk unbeknownst to them in their near
futures. Our vision has become so obscured that the average person lives for today with little
regard to future judgment and issues of eternal consequence. Paul explained the situation adequately when he wrote, “whose
minds the god of this age has blinded” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Today more than ever, you and I need 20/20 vision. We need to see things as they really are in order to know the days in which we
live and to live according to the times. We also need what Jesus talked about in Revelation 3:18: “eye salve that [we] might see” and
that we might see ourselves as we truly are—in desperate daily need of a Savior. But we also need that vision Paul wrote about that
lifts our eyes from this dim world, “unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Will you this year, as the hymn writer posed, be in earnest to “turn your eyes upon Jesus, [and] look full in His won-
derful face”? I know I plan to. Won’t you join me?

16 Staying Focused on Christ 20/20 Vision