Several years ago, I had the opportunity to fly in an airplane on a dreary, cloudy day. The plane took off from the runway under the shadows of the overcast sky. We quickly ascended, and within a few minutes, we were flying right through the clouds so that the view out of my window was reduced to a hazy scene of grayish white fog. Then, suddenly we burst through the clouds, and the scene changed dramatically. As I peered out the window, I was instantly immersed in the beautiful sight of bright sunshine reflected on a blanket of clouds below us. It was an amazing view made possible by my change in altitude. While I was looking at the same clouds I had seen on the runway, I now saw them with a new perspective. As a result, my attitude changed completely!
This experience caused me to think about how I viewed other things, and I realized how much I needed God to help me view life from a proper perspective. One scripture passage that reveals the power of perspective is Psalm 73. The author, Asaph, fills his opening verses with complaints about how ungodly people prosper while he, a righteous man, suffers. He writes in verse three, “I envied the proud when I saw them prosper.” However, throughout the course of the psalm, Asaph’s writings begin to reflect a much different attitude. By the end of the psalm, Asaph abandons his complaints to God and replaces them with praise. He concludes by declaring, “It is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works” (v. 28).
So what changed Asaph’s attitude? When you read the entirety of his psalm, you notice a clear, distinct transition in verse seventeen. Before that verse, we see cries of distress, but after that verse, we find shouts of praise. What’s so special about verse seventeen? Well, there we find the key that alters Asaph’s opinion. He writes, “Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.” You see, the entire psalm hinges on the phrase, “Then I went into your sanctuary.” When Asaph entered the presence of the Lord, his whole perspective changed. Instead of viewing his circumstances through his own eyes, he suddenly saw through God’s eyes.
We all often face similar scenarios in which we’re tempted to moan and groan about how things just aren’t going our way. However, Asaph demonstrates that the proper response is not to look at our problems and complain, but rather to consider the Lord and rejoice. One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is this: “When was the last time I went into the sanctuary of God?” Our answer will go a long way in revealing if we are viewing life from the right perspective or not! I encourage you to enter the presence of the Lord today and let him change your perspective, change your attitude, change your heart, and change your life!
Reflections 