“I thought you told me there was a scenic forest on this road; all I saw was a bunch of trees!” A fitting illustration for an old saying that goes back at least 450 years—’she can’t see the forest for the trees’. We probably know people who become so preoccupied with details they miss the main point. They failed to see the big picture. On the other hand, people can have the opposite perspective. They can’t see anything but the forest and have no interest in the details. Scripture gives examples of both outlooks. It appears the apostles had been so busy with the details of handing out bread and fish to the 5,000 and then to the 4,000 they missed the miracle. Afterward, while crossing the lake, they grew concerned about what they would eat. They only brought one piece of bread. Hearing their discussion, Jesus reminds them of how many He fed with five loaves and two fishes plus the leftovers they picked up. “Do you not yet understand” (Mk 8:21)? The disciples missed the miracle and the lesson Jesus was demonstrating because they became absorbed in their task.
A second example comes from the large crowds traveling with Jesus. This had to be exciting for the people watching all the miracles and hearing His powerful teaching. But becoming His disciple involved more than what they were observing in these events. Jesus turned and warned them it wasn’t all dramatic or just about teaching; it included difficult experiences. Whoever does not take up his cross and come after me may not be my disciple. (Lk 14:27 BBE). He clarified this through two parables. When a man desires to build a tower, after his initial mental image of the finished structure, he must consider the details and calculate the cost. Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money (Lk 14:29 NLT). In a second parable He asks, can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other (v31 MSG)? The eager crowds must see the big picture and count the cost.
Both perspectives are natural traits but can become unbalanced. Like the disciples we can miss the lesson because we allow the details to consume us. Or we can have a grandiose idea of how wonderful serving Christ might be then stumble when difficult times arise. Believers must learn to see both the forest and the trees; in other words, see the eternal and everyday practical concerns. When I taught my children how to spot animals in the woods, I trained them to look past the canopy which is the initial overall view. They developed the ability to see what was beyond the canopy through gaps between the trees, leaves, and brush. Satan tries to cloud our view with the troubles of the ‘here and now’. By faith, we must look beyond through the gaps and see His promises, perceive the presence to the Holy Spirit, and the answers that lie just beyond.
Jesus endured the shame and pain of the cross because He looked beyond and never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way (Heb 12:2 MSG). Imagine the thoughts that could have gone through Jesus’ mind if He hadn’t looked beyond His situation. “What a failure I am. I came to bring life and I’m dying. Even my closest disciples ran away. Everybody hates Me.” Similar thoughts can go through our mind if we don’t see beyond the canopy of this life. Note the example of Peter walking on the water. Matthew doesn’t say how far but Peter walked at least a few steps. He started out focused on Jesus, but Peter took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the fierce wind and waves. He became frightened and began to sink (Matt 14:30). In light of the above thoughts, at first Peter looked beyond the canopy of the storm and saw Jesus. But turned His focus back to his circumstances and began sinking.
Jesus first commended the church at Ephesus. I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out . . . You hate the Nicolaitan business. I hate it, too. (Rev 2:2, 3,6 MSG). The people were doing valuable work, but He condemned them for losing sight of their purpose. But you walked away from your first love-why? What’s going on with you, anyway (v4)? Jesus doesn’t abandon the church rather He says remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first (v4). Neither did Jesus desert Peter, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him (Matt 14:31). He scolded Peter but gave a lesson through His rebuke, “You of little faith, why did you doubt” (v31)? We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 6:7). By faith Moses persevered because he saw him who is invisible (Heb 11:27). Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (v1 NIV).
Sustaining Word for the Week: Learn to see the forest and the trees. Look beyond the canopy by faith and see the unseen hand of God at work.