IF YOU CAN SEE IT...YOU CAN BE IT! (Part I)

IF YOU CAN SEE IT…YOU CAN BE IT! (Part I)

As was his custom, a homeless man slept on the sidewalk across the street from an artist’s studio.  One morning, the neighboring artist sketched the face of this poor soul who experienced the daily indignities of living outdoors and begging for bread.  After his initial sketch was completed, the artist began to add bright colors to the homeless man’s face.  As the brilliant hues of oil paint brushed skillfully across the canvas, the overall image of this destitute soul began to transform dramatically.  The artist brightened the man’s unwashed skin and gave his eyes the look of fierce determination and strength.  Finally, he artistically brushed the poor man’s clumpy and unkempt hair, giving him a polished and regal appearance.

When the painting was completed, the artist called the indigent man in to take a look at his work of art.  The homeless man was hesitant and fearful because he had never been summoned to this studio and did not know what to expect.  As you might imagine, the beggar who was invited to view the painting did not immediately recognize himself.  “Who is this?” he whispered in subdued tones.  The proud artist only smiled.  Coming closer to the painting, the man had a growing realization that there was something vaguely familiar about the image caught on canvass.  “Is this…me?” he finally asked.  “Could this possibly be a painting of me?”  The artist replied “Yes, this is how I see you.”  After a few moments, that beggar squared his shoulders, stood significantly taller than he had in years, and announced proudly, “If this is the person you SEE…then that is the person I will BE!”

IF YOU CAN SEE IT…YOU CAN BE IT!

Our Creator looks upon you and I in the same manner that the artist viewed and conceptualized that homeless person.  Whenever God considers us, He never focuses on the obvious: our faults, failures, foibles and fiascoes.  El Shaddai, The All-Sufficient One, The Alpha and Omega, The Designer of the Universe, actually SEES US for who we were ultimately INTENDED TO BE in the sovereign Mind and Will of Almighty God.  Wow…chew on that for a moment!

Here is a powerful exercise you can try right now.  After you read this paragraph, close your eyes for one moment.  Try not to think of today’s duties or demands…think about YOU…for just one moment.  Don’t think about your past.  Don’t consider your present condition and circumstances.  For just one moment, TRY TO SEE YOU…AS GOD SEES YOU…on the DAY OF YOUR BIRTH…your very first day on Planet Earth.  Incidentally, the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever, sees you that way STILL!  It is probable that you had little or no issues on the day of your birth, or at least no awareness of any deficits or deficiencies.  In the months that followed, you would smile and laugh (freely and frequently) – for scarcely any reason at all.  You were carefree, joyful, overflowing with energy and full of expectation about any and every thing that was and would be.  Close your eyes and SEE that GOD-CREATED PERSON…right now.

My friend, WHAT did you see with your eyes closed?  WHO did you see?  Undoubtedly, some of you might have difficulty VISUALIZING YOURSELF through THE EYES OF GOD, so to speak.  It may seem impossible to see that BEAUTIFUL AND BEST YOU – because you have been programmed by life experiences to see ANOTHER YOU.  Perhaps in your childhood, your parents did not care for, nurture or encourage you.  Perhaps others (significant others) chose to highlight your limitations and losses, your insufficiencies and inabilities.

Maybe you even married someone who lacks the ability to appreciate or support you.  So now – when you see yourself – you only visualize negativity, failure and defeat.  If that be the case with you, please say these words after me: “IT IS RE-PROGRAMMING TIME!”  Affirm your ‘Image-Emancipation’ once more, but this time say it louder and with more enthusiasm: “STARTING TODAY…I WILL RE-PROGRAM MYSELF…AND I WILL SEE MYSELF AS GOD SEES ME…BECAUSE IF I CAN SEE IT…I CAN BE IT!  AMEN!  AMEN!  AMEN!”

In the world of computer technology, there is a familiar adage: ‘Garbage in…garbage out.’  This means that if ‘erroneous stuff’ is somehow programmed into your computer software, your eventual output will be useless.  ‘JUNK IN…JUNK OUT!’  Whether you realize it or not, YOU cannot rise above the MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL SOFTWARE that YOU have licensed and allowed to be programmed onto the computer of your life!  I have a vital announcement to make, and I am now speaking with spiritual authority to your future: “IT IS RE-PROGRAMMING TIME!”

Never forget this simple truth: ALMIGHTY GOD IS THE CREATIVE ARTIST OF YOUR ETERNAL EXISTENCE – AND HIS ORIGINAL PORTRAIT OF YOU IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL!

So it does not matter at all whether you seem to be hapless, helpless, or homeless at the moment that your TRUE IMAGE is manifested and revealed to you.  As Bishop Charles E. Blake says so often, “I see you in your future…and you look much better than you do today!”  So get up from wherever, whatever, or however you might be…and declare with all the faith you can muster: “IF I CAN SEE IT…I CAN BE IT!”  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!