Jeremiah

by David Smith, Ayr, U.K. | Category: What Seest Thou? | Apr 1983

Of the senses with which God has endowed man, eyesight is perhaps the most precious, and the most essential to personal enjoyment of life. "Blessed are your eyes, for they see" and "the lamp of the body is the eye," said the Lord. The disadvantages experienced by those who cannot see were expressed in the pathetic cry of blind Bartimaeus: "Thou Son of David, have mercy on me ... that I may receive my sight" (Mark 10:48, 51).

The first direct scriptural mention of the exercise of human sight is in Genesis 3:6, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes ... she took of the fruit thereof and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." The reaction to what they saw brought the human race into subjection to sin, and this priceless vehicle of perception, as well as being liable to defect, became the slave of insatiable lust (Eccles. 1:8; 1 John 2:16, 17).

On that very day however God gave promise of a Redeemer and Deliverer. In addressing the serpent He said concerning the seed of the woman, "It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." Throughout the ages the godly have seen, not with their natural eyes, but, with the eyes of their hearts enlightened by the Holy Spirit, that glorious coming event, which was clearly envisaged by the faithful in times of darkness and declension, such as existed when God appointed Jeremiah a prophet to the nations.

The young man of Anathoth was in the prime of life, the time when the vigour of youth is fresh and the natural senses keen and alert. Young man, do not withhold from the Lord the best years of your life! All around him Jeremiah saw only unrighteousness and failure, with clouds of impending judgement gathering on the horizon. What could he see to stimulate the energy of youth? What future was there for him when "the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou?" Without hesitation came the reply "I see the rod of an almond tree."

Fellow believer, what seest thou? In a world where the lust of the eyes is catered for to an extent previously unknown, what fills your vision? Is it pleasure or worldly ambition? Perhaps you see little to encourage you, little that appeals to your zeal and eagerness, but don't be discouraged, look off unto Jesus. See the rod of the almond tree and discern with the eyes of your understanding this beautiful type of Christ risen from the dead, as shown in Aaron's rod that budded in the wilderness (Numbers 17:8), and was laid up before the Lord in the ark of the testimony (Hebrews 9:4). Surely the circumstances of life take on another aspect when we see Christ in His place at the right hand of God, Son over God's house (Hebrews 3:6) and "Great Priest" (Hebrews 10:21) on behalf of God's people in their holy priesthood service.

Although today we do not see Him in the flesh (1 Peter 1:8) by faith we see Him in glory (Hebrews 2:9) and of all that may attract our gaze in this life nothing can ever compare with the beauty and glory of Christ. Surely if we see "the rod of an almond tree," Christ at the right hand of God, and have our faith resting in Him to perform every word of God, then we can rejoice for God's word is "thou hast well seen."

David Smith, Ayr, U.K. | Apr 1983
What Seest Thou?