One of the short definitions of perspective is that it is a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines perspective as:
*the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spacial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye; specifically : representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance
* a picture in perspective
* the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed <places the issues in proper perspective>;also point of view
From this picture cartoon what we see is two different perspectives on the same thing. According to the point of view of both, they are both right and probably willing to fight for what that see as true according to their own perspective.
This week my husband and our two youngest daughters traveled to Asheville, North Carolina. My husband had a conference he was speaking at, so the girls and I tagged along. On the drive there, we were channel surfing through the radio, and my husband stopped on the popular song Say Something. The only time my husband and I had heard this song performed was by unmarried barely out of their teens kids on The X Factor and American Idol…
Thus far, we have seen this song as an over-dramatic plea from a teen crush. So my husband begins doing what he does in being silly and trying to entertain his girls and make us laugh… and he says, “so what I’m hearing is dude here has been laying it out for old girl and she ain’t giving him any signs that she’s into him, so he’s like say something or I’m out!”
We all laugh… because he’s pretty good at making us laugh.
Then our Shelby shares another perspective with us on the song. She shares how she saw a video of a elderly man holding his wife’s hand in the hospital as she lay there unable to respond to him as her life was passing away…
Now at this point I look at my husband and neither of us is laughing… we are now listening to the words of this song from a completely different point of view… now we are both crying. I mean tears and snot crying. Neither of us will ever hear the words of this song the same again.
My husband then turns to our Shelby and says, “Thanks a lot Shelby! I liked my story better!”
Perspective is huge.
Our Father in Heaven knows that perspective is huge… that’s why He sent His Son.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Jesus came as the Word made flesh so that we could see the Word of God from a whole different perspective. People had been looking at the Word through the eyes of Pharisees for a very long time. The Gentiles had never seen any relevance of the Word to them… and the majority of the Jews were not to quick to help them see it either.
The wrong perspective on the Word of God leads to fear, condemnation, and death but the right perspective leads to love, mercy, and life.
In a world that once again is trying hard to make the Word of God about fear, condemnation, and death… let those of us who see it as the Only Way to love, mercy, and life be willing to demonstrate our point of view not just through our words but through our actions. I love what David Powlison wrote in his book Speaking Truth in Love…
Preach the Word-vividly. Counsel the Word-vividly. Clothe the bones of biblical teaching and principle in the flesh of drama, metaphor, and integrity.
~ David Powlison
The Word of God was never meant to be cold, hard, and lifeless… it was meant to bring hope.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
Isaiah 61:1-2
Where there is hope, despondency cannot survive.
Jesus came to bring hope to those in despair… even those in despair due to their perspective of His Father. He didn’t condemn those who did not see… only those who refused to see. There is a difference.
Jesus also did not stand on His perspective and expect people to come to His way of seeing things on their own… He went to them and saw things from their perspective and then showed them how to see things from His.
Let us learn from our Teacher and do likewise.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13