Vantage Points

From The Voices and The Choices by Roxanne Parks on YouVersion

Years ago, there was a TV movie called “Vantage Point”. It was a fictional movie about the attempted assassination of an American President. The movie was replayed to the viewer from different “Vantage Points” and the story was different each time.

Parlaying the vantage point idea into our own personal lives, have you ever remembered a personal story and have another person say, “That is not how it was”? My children often remember some of their life stories very differently than I, their mother. So, who is right? Is the story how I remember it to be or how they thought it was? Perspective is truth to the owner. This is a giant idea to ponder.

Proverbs 18:2 – A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

There is a statement “Seek first to understand and then to be understood”. The wisdom gained from this statement enhances our understanding of the vantage point idea. Seeing things from the position of another person will enhance greater understanding and empathy. Not necessarily agreement. But certainly, more understanding!

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Since God is the Creator and the Knower, I want His vantage point. Proverbs tells us to lean not on our own understanding but to trust Him in all things. Often times this scripture helps me reckon with the unreasonable misunderstandings in life.

Jesus admonished the disciples when they were “seeing things from a human point of view and not from God’s eternal point of view”. We must set our perspective and our minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Galatians 1:10 – For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Life is enormously easier for me whenever I am choosing a quiet resolve and a confident trust in the viewpoint of the Trustworthy One. I challenge myself to always consider the eternal perspective of the moment. I have become accustomed to the thought of trusting a God’s eternal vantage point. Have you?

Question to ponder:

Do you take time to consider another person’s truth, perspective or point of view to help build your relationship with them?

Prayer:

Lord I want your eternal vantage point. Help me to trust you and your Sovereign plans.