Let me see like you see, Father?

This past year, in preparation to teach Ladies Bible study, I asked the Lord one question: “Please show me what YOU see Father?” I knew that if I could only see through His eyes….what is important to Him… then I could get a clearer picture as to what to teach. I could gain passion. I could gain clearer goals and see from Gods perspective . “Please show me what YOU see Father?”
God never fails to answer my sincere questions…..as amazing as it seems. The God of this universe...creator of all things…cares about the questions in the heart of one little lady in a tiny part of the United States ministering to a small group of ladies who love Jesus! Amazing.
I prayed and asked that question six months ago. And here is His answer to me:
Matt and I went to NYC this past weekend. The intent was a quiet weekend for Matts 50th birthday. I was excited to have a quiet, relaxing time at the end of a busy work season. It was an absolutely beautiful sunny day as we walked through Battery City Park….at the NYC harbor. I stood across from the Statue of Liberty. I thought about what that statue stood for. How so many years ago people came here to America for the sole purpose of obtaining religious freedom. They were tired of living under organized religion and they were Bible believers who wanted to worship God freely. This trip couldn’t start out any better. My heart was happy and thankful!
The next day we entered the city. I saw hundreds of people. People everywhere, walking in all directions! Matt told me to keep my purse close as person after person brushed against us. It stood out in my mind how that everyone is so different. How could there be so many people in this world….in NYC alone ..and all be unique?
What I noticed most, though, was that so much sin was staring directly in my face. I saw homosexuality everywhere. I had visited NYC a few years ago and saw homosexuals then. But this time…it was prevalent. It was everywhere. They were unashamed and confident in their sin. One man- a cross dresser- walked next to me. He was about 6’2 and he was dressed like a little girl. He had on clothing that reminded me of Shirley Temple and he wore a pig-tail, blonde wig. He walked with boldness and held his head high. I then saw homeless people, alcoholics who begged for money to buy more alcohol. They didn’t beg for food. I watched them go through the horrible smelling garbage cans for scraps. And on the very same street I saw materialism galore. We entered a department store (the only store I went into all weekend) that sold t-shirts for $250.00. It shocked me even more that people were actually buying them. I stood near the checkout counter and watched a young man purchase four dress shirts and his bill came to $2000.00. As we entered the subway Matt pointed out two teenagers, a young boy and girl, who looked to be runaways and homeless….they slept on the dirty cement floor. The girls hair was filthy and looked like it hadn’t been combed in days. I watched a drug addict who was so high he couldn't walk straight.
Many friends had offered recommendations…. told me to see this site and that site in NYC. But I didn’t notice anything…couldn’t concentrate on anything….except the people. And the sin.
It seemed odd, but I also noticed the smell. I told Matt that all I could smell was human waste and rotten garbage. I could NOT get the smell out of my nose. Even now, as I write, my senses remember the stench.
Matt and I continued to walk. And a short distance away I heard a preacher. He was preaching with power into a loud microphone! My heart skipped a beat and I thought “YES!” The closer we got I could hear that he was actually preaching from the King James Bible. We got closer and saw big, strong black men standing in a group. They wore red robes with the star of David on their shoulders. One man read the Scripture and the other man preached. The rest of them looked as if they were standing guard in front of the two speakers. There were several groups of these men standing on corner after corner for blocks on end! The more we listened I realized that they were preaching false doctrine. Although they were quoting from the Bible, they were preaching hate and lies. These men believe that they are black Jews…the real chosen people…and that the white man are literal spawn of satan. I was trying to wrap my mind around what was being said. Matt and I got separated so I stood in the background waiting for him to find me. A group of Jewish men dressed in Orthodox Jewish clothing walked by me. The false preacher screamed at them, calling them imposters and yelling something in the Hebrew language. The Jewish men hid under their hats and all but ran. I heard one say quietly to the other “Go…lets get out of here!” They were filled with fear. Just as they passed me, the false preacher screamed into his microphone “Lady with blonde hair, DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD???” Out of all of these hundreds of people he’s talking to ME??? My mind raced….do I engage in conversation with this man?? I know one thing…I will NEVER deny my belief in God no matter who asks me. So I shouted “Yes I believe in God!” I sounded like a little mouse next to his booming voice. He yelled, questioning me further “Then you believe what I am saying?” God strategically placed a man next to me and he looked at me and said the words I was thinking “Do not engage in conversation with him. He is teaching false doctrine. He hates the white man and he thinks we are from satan. Then this man walked directly in front of me as if to protect me. He blocked me from the preachers view.
I wanted to RUN into the middle of the street and scream at the top of my lungs. “GOD, WHERE ARE YOU IN ALL OF THIS??” It felt like I was in a literal hell---a place without God. And, I hated it. Matt found me, grabbed me by the arm and said “Lets get out of here!”
I got home and couldn’t sleep. I tossed and I turned. I got up then laid back down. 2:00…3:00…and finally I got up for good and went out onto the deck overlooking the water. In the darkness I asked God “Why am I so unsettled?” And instantly the Holy Spirit said “You asked me to show you. Now you see what I see. How far man has come since sin entered. Mankind…fallen, sick, overtaken with evil.” I stood in silence for the longest time. It was as if God had literally taken me by the hand from beginning to end and pointed out scene after scene….. even down to the sickening smells…..and showed me exactly what He sees when he looks down on this earth. God doesn’t see sites and buildings….God sees people!
I stood, watching the sun rise, and wondered why we send missionaries to far-away lands when….just a five hour drive to the east of me…there is a place that needs Jesus desperately… In my very own state of New York! Not once the entire weekend did I hear one man of God on one single street in NYC preach hope and salvation to those lost and dying people!
I haven’t been the same since last weekend. I hope I am never the same person that I was before I saw as God sees. I want to never, never forget.
Last night was the first night of Bible study and I shared this experience with the ladies. I hope they sensed my passion for Jesus. I have a different and fresh perspective as I begin to teach again this year. I hope we all will come away changed!