How quickly perspectives change! There’s the news item about a traveler who had a flat tire while rushing to the airport, then didn’t perish in the plane crash because he missed the flight. Or that job, or thing, or person we thought we couldn’t live without — but later thanked God that he kept from us. Or the adversity that sorely tested our faith, but proved in retrospect to be a vital stepping-stone to spiritual progress.
And what about that middle Cross on Golgotha? As of Friday afternoon, it looked just like the other two. Then Sunday morning dawned, and suddenly there was no longer any comparison. Even that exhilaration was short-lived. Fear still gripped Jesus’ followers with a cold hand and wouldn’t turn loose. But Pentecost arrived, bringing its own fresh perspective.
Sometimes our own past appears confusing, our present circumstances hazy, or our future indefinite and unclear. But God has given us a view through the fog, a light that penetrates the mist, a lens that brings the abiding truths into clear focus. That is the gospel story of Jesus of Nazareth, God’s Son and our Savior. His obedient life, substitutionary death, mighty resurrection, return in the Spirit and coming glorious return in person reveal the very face and character of God — his love, faithfulness, power, patience, presence and victory. These eternal realities provide us a safe vision for our own journey, and a right perspective about everything else we encounter along the way.
