It Is Time To "See" Jesus

When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied. But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? [2 Kings 5.25-26] 

What time is it?

If, in Elisha's time it was not time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants, then how much more is it not time today to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?

Today's One Year Chronological Bible Reading reveals it is time to "see." Specifically, it is time to see Jesus in Elisha's story.

Only when we "see" God's Word do we really see the world around us for what it is. This was precisely the case for Elisha. 

In light of the statement above, we can know that we are seeing the Word of God (Jesus) for what it (He) really is when the things of this world mean nothing to us.

It can be argued that Elisha performed even greater miracles than did his predecessor, Elijah. From yesterday's article To "See", we can understand that Elijah's life spoke prophetically of Jesus and the necessity for us to keep our eyes on Him. With this in mind, something Jesus said makes much more sense about the double anointing that Elisha (representing true believers) desired from Elijah (representing Jesus) ...if we truly "see" Jesus for Who He is:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

In contrast, Gehazi represents those who don't "see" Jesus: their worldly desires dominate and they are powerless over disease. 

Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. [2 Kings 5.27] 

Leprosy broadly represents the "disease" of not "seeing" Jesus. Jesus addressed this condition in no uncertain terms:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Pride, greed and lust are all fruits of idolatry. Idolatry is trusting anything other than, or in addition to, God. "Anything" trusted other than, or in addition to, God includes "self." Such was the case for Gehazi. He was not "seeing" God's Word but allowing his eyes to selfishly see other things: money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants. In contrast, Elisha had entirely rejected Naaman's gifts. 

Think about it... Gehazi's religious "God" conscience would not allow him to request all the gifts Naaman had brought - but as the Scriptures reveal, his idolatry, even the simple idolatry of a little "self" in addition to God, still yielded diseased powerlessness in Gehazi's life.

As much as modern man would like to justify his pursuit of money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants, God's Word simply does not allow it. The New Testament Age of Grace ushered in by Jesus does not allow it. Proof? Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

It is time to "see" that the powerless condition of the Church today is not some new dispensation of the Church ("grace" or otherwise), but rather the same old problem of idolatry that it has always been. 

But will we "see" it?

Father, as much as we would like to ask for "eyes to see," it is a fruitless request as long as we refuse to take our eyes off the world. May we take to heart Jesus' demand that we give up our own way (selfishness and idolatry), take up our cross (without a care for our lives), and follow Jesus. So be it.