Last summer, I crafted this cross for a friend. The friend who first taught me how to craft stone, created the limestone tower in the background, historic replica of a stalwart Maltese sentry of the sea.

It took patience and a steady hand to hollow the eye out of the stone, which when filled with olive oil lights, heals and nourishes the stone beautifully.

[Hagar] gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13

My God sees everything. My God has angels everywhere, some with eyes all over themselves – so they can see what God sees. God sees the motives of hearts. God sees the child in the garbage dump. God sees the fresh water spring. God sees injustice and hates it. God sees kindness and encourages it.

Through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God said to humanity, “I see you with human eyes. Watch me in my humanity! Do as I do. Come on.” While he hung on the cross, he asked the world, “Do you see me yet? I’m right here. I know you don’t understand right now. But, do you see me yet? For just a moment, don’t look beyond my piercing eyes and twisting bones. Tell me what you think you see… Now, as I take my last breath (for a little while), let me tell you what I see in you!”

When you step behind your pulpit, what do you see? I’ll tell you what I see….

I see what they saw when they painted their cathedrals. I walk in those places and say, “I’ve seen this! I’ve seen heaven opened and this is what it looks like… It’s paint on a ceiling, but it’s so close.”

I see what they saw when they crafted their letters, epistles, and prophecies. I study those scriptures and say, “I’ve seen this! I’ve seen heaven opened up and this is what it looks like… They are words on a page, but they breathe ever so close.”

But, more than anything, I want to see Him and I want to see what He sees.

Since my childhood, the one question I’ve doodled down onto paper more than any other question I’ve ever written, it haunts me nearly every day… it must be an angel whispering in my ear, so relentlessly, yet so quietly:  “The eyes of Christ, what do they see?”

And my response is typically something like, “forgive me Lord, i cannot see. You are the God who sees me. if it pleases the King, give me eyes to see – that i would be seeing and perceiving and hearing and coming to a knowledge of the truth You are, all that You embody as Lord and God. show me the way, that i may walk in it. reveal Your heart to me. teach me. rebuke me. correct me. train me. i am in your school. i am under your command. i am a trained dog at rest under Your banqueting table. just move slightly and i’ll know. every fiber of my being is trained to Your slightest expression, the glance of Your eye, the openness of Your hand… yes, i see You and love You. even if You never feed me again. even if i die at Your side in battle. even if we are free to run and hunt together. even if You sit me at Your side and scratch behind my ears. heaven. to have my ears rattled by the God of heaven and earth.  yes, there are frequencies i detect, and You know i know, and You smile… and then You say those words, “Go get ‘em boy! I’ll meet you there.”

… feet eventually catch up with the rest, an unbridled hurricane, down the corridor, left, through the ballroom, my pace echoing off the cavernous expanse, gain speed, pass the guards, under the arch, down the steps, out the gate, blast of sunlight, scent of spring, paws on grass, increase speed, eyes on the forest, tongue hanging out… three hills, a stream, splash, don’t shake – run, a wide open plain of flowers, hawk overhead, and there is the special tree by the quiet pool… it’s special because He will meet me hear soon. He’s on His way. shake. a little drink. face the palace. lay down under the tree. nose on the ground. triangulate ears. keep eyes on those hills… He’s coming soon!

sola scriptura. His word alone.