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 for years had experienced the humbling 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 were 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 a 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 to view his work of art.  The homeless man was hesitant and fearful because he had never been summoned to the studio and did not know what to expect.  As you might imagine, the invited beggar 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!”

 My friend, if you can see it…you can be it!

 Our Creator looks upon you in the same manner that the artist viewed and conceptualized that humble beggar.  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, 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 finish reading this paragraph, close your eyes for a 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 moments on Planet Earth. Incidentally, the God who is “the same yesterday, today and forever,” sees you that way still! (Hebrews 13:8) It is likely 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 smiled and laughed, freely and frequently, for scarcely any reason at all.  You were carefree, joyful, overflowing with energy and full of expectation about everything that was and would be.  C lose 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 BEAUTIFULLY BLESSED AND BEST YOU – because over time you have been programmed by life experiences to SEE ANOTHER YOU.  Perhaps in your childhood, your parents did not sufficiently 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 doubt, negativity, failure, or defeat.  If that be the case, 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 CAN rise above the MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL SOFTWARE that OTHERS have licensed and YOU have allowed to be programmed onto the emotional 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 EXCEPTIONALLY BOLD, BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL!

 It does not matter at all whether you appear to be hapless, helpless, hopeless, or homeless in the moment that your TRUE IMAGE is manifested and revealed.  As Presiding Bishop Charles Edward Blake says so often, “I see you in your future…and you look much better than you do today!”  So get up from whatever, wherever, or however you seem to 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 YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!