It’s easy to look at something and see what we expect while missing what can be discovered. Those of us who regularly post blogs know the value of “fresh eyes.” If we can put aside a post for a few hours or a day before we need to publish it, we will almost always find something unexpected – errors to fix and better ways to communicate.
When 1 + 1 Does Not Equal 2
Let me give you a simple example of revealing something unexpected. We were taught very early in our lives was that 1+1=2. This math is learned so early in a child’s development that it becomes organic; it’s an axiom that’s not to be questioned. Nevertheless, right now, I’m going to prove that 1+1 does not always equal 2.
What I’m going to show is shockingly simple and staring us right in our faces. (By the way, the ≠ symbol means “not equal.”) Now here’s why 1 + 1 ≠ 2.
Let’s imagine that we have a tub full of children’s wooden building blocks. Each block has either a number, zero through nine, or the mathematical symbols + or -.
Now you reach into the tub and pull out a block that has the number one on it. You repeat and pull out another block that has the number one on it. Finally, you reach in and pull out a block that has the plus symbol, which represents “addition.” So, how many blocks do you have? Yep, you have three blocks. So, 1+1=3. 🙂
Promises
The one true God, the Triune God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, has given promises to us throughout God’s Word, from Genesis through Revelation. They are there to be used. We use them for comfort, and we use them in our prayers to keep our prayers within God’s will. The following Psalm is one to which I hang on.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah – Psalms 46:1-3
The Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to write, “We will not fear though the earth gives way.” Right now, many people think the world is collapsing. They predict that economies will fail, populations will be decimated, and our creature-comforts will be lost. But they don’t see with fresh eyes. We, as believers, aren’t to fear any of those things.
We have a hiding place, a place where we can be covered; that place is in God, and Jesus is the only gate (John 10:9) through which we can enter God’s refuge. Sure, bad things may happen, but we serve a good God (Mark 10:18) that will help us through them.
As we walk through each day that God gives us, let’s ask Him for fresh eyes. There are too many wonderful things that God has in store for those that trust Him.
Photo by Susan Holt Simpson on Unsplash
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