“God will lead you to the mountaintop, but you’ll have to cross the desert to get there.”

Written by Sara B. Anderson J.D., M.Div.

What do we gain from the top of a mountain?

Perspective.

At the start of another new year, fresh beginnings inspire new goals.

A simple definition of a goal would be getting from where we are to where we want to be.

To achieve this, goals need vision. Vision, however, is only as profitable as our perspective. Why? Because we orient our vision according to our perspective and then we set our goals accordingly.

My husband and four-year-old son love to golf. Out of all seven of us, you might say the two of them are “naturals.” Bryan has tried to help me, but there’s really no point. I’m what you call “handicapped” in golf. Interestingly, my swing isn’t too bad. What I’ve learned is that the difference between a good and bad shot is merely a matter of a few degrees. The small discrepancy in the angle of one’s club sets the trajectory of where the ball ends up—either in the hole where you want it to be. . . or not. 

By analogy, our perspective is the angle of our club. It sets the trajectory of our goals so that we can more accurately get from where we are to where we want to be.

The correct perspective, then, gets us from where we are to where we need to be.

In other words, we need the right perspective, not just any perspective.

Exodus 20:20 sets the proper trajectory of our perspective. To get to where we need to be, we need to be able to see everything through the fear of the Lord.

Is it any coincidence that 20/20 vision is what we like to call “perfect vision”?  I think not. We need God’s perfect, 20/20 vision.

The thought of fearing the Lord may stir cognitive dissonance, but there’s a difference between fear of circumstances and fear of the Lord.

Fear of circumstances is not of the Lord, but fear of God is. The difference is unpacked in Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

I just love that this Scripture confirms that fear of the Lord is a matter of having 20/20 or perfect vision by using the word “insight.” Internal change of the mind and heart happens when we fear God to gain His insight.

So friends, as we set our goals, we remember that the right perspective, Godly perspective, is everything.

Lord, we ask for your perspective from the mountaintop so we can have your perfect vision moving forward into your purpose for us. Give us wisdom through fear of you that even our trials are part of the journey to orient our hearts and minds to get us where we need to be: in your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Expert from-20/20 Vision: How Exodus 20:20 Brings the Purpose of Our Trials into Focus

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Written by Sara B. Anderson J.D., M.Div.

Sara is a Writer, Speaker, Teacher and Christian Apologist. She is the Founder of Fruits of Faith Ministries. She is the Director of Christian Worldview at GGN. Sara loves to write and has written several books including. "The Best is Yet to Come."

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