Wednesday, February 28, 2018

In Focus

1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see only a reflection, only partially known. Soon, we will see Christ face to face, fully known. Persevere to the end. He's waiting for you. I'm praying for you. www.jeffhoracek.com | #focusonjesus


 "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Fast Focus


“I have a point of view. You have a point of view. God has view.”

            —Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

 

     Another fascinating fact of the eye is its ability to fast focus from very distant objects to very close objects almost seamlessly and instantly. Accommodation is what allows the eye to accomplish this in less than 350 milliseconds. When looking at distant objects, the crystalline lens of the eye, which sits behind the pupil (the iris) is considered to be at rest and in focus. However, when we look at close objects, more magnification power is needed to put them into focus and the crystalline lens responds by changing its shape by means of ligaments attached to a muscle, which increase its curvature and ability to focus at near. As we get older, our accommodation ability decreases (presbyopia) and we begin to need eyeglass lenses to help us focus at these close distances.

     Despite our amazing ability to fast focus at so many differing distances, we all have a singular perspective and point of view. So too, it is, with our experiences and journey through this life. We all have our unique perspectives and points of view. With God, however, His view is all-encompassing and complete, seeing everything throughout eternity—past, present, and future—perfectly from every angle and perspective. Nothing escapes His watchful eye and He already knows the end from the very beginning.

     Take heart in knowing that He is always watching over you and is just waiting eagerly to pour out bountiful blessings upon you. Here is a comforting psalm, Psalm 121, a psalm of God’s watchful eye and protection covering you:

 

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:1–8 NIV

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

In the Blink of an Eye

Make sure you're not left behind. Christ will come without a moment's notice to take us home. I pray you're coming with us. www.jeffhoracek.com | #1corinthians15:51 #twinklingofaneye #blink #rapture                                                        

Sunday, February 18, 2018

In the Twinkling of an Eye


“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51–53 NIV

 

     “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.” The twinkling of an eye is simply an antiquated way of saying a blink or a wink. And fast it is, indeed. The orbicularis muscle surrounding the external eye is responsible for closing the eyelids and the levator muscle of the upper eyelid is responsible for elevating or opening the upper eyelid. Those two muscles (and a few others) working synergistically together are some of the fastest twitch muscles of the human body. In fact, the typical blink lasts only 100–300 milliseconds. That means you could potentially blink almost four times in a second, and that brings a whole new meaning to “batting your eyes”!

     We blink primarily to resurface the tear film on the eye, which is critical for not only clarity of vision but also for the health of the ocular surface. On average, we blink about 17 times per minute (once every 3.5 seconds), but that drops to about half that when we are reading or concentrating on a computer screen. That’s why our eyes can get so dry during those particular activities. Blinking is also obviously a protective mechanism. (That’s why your eyes always close when you sneeze!)

     When Christ comes to take home all believers at the Rapture, it happens in midair in the blink of an eye. When Christ comes, He brings with Him the souls and spirits of all believers who have died and were in heaven with Him. In midair, the dead bodies of all those believers are instantly resurrected and reunited with their souls and spirits in a new glorified perfect body to live out the days of eternity. Next, those believers who are alive at the time of the Rapture will immediately be caught up in the air with Christ and also be transformed into glorified bodies. Yes! Some of us will never taste death! Then we are all ushered back home to heaven till we come back down to earth with Christ at His Glorious Appearing!

     Now that’s a blink I can’t wait for! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

He is the pioneer and perfecter of your faith. He endured the scourge of the Cross just for you. Come to the Cross and lay your burdens down! I'm praying for you!
#hebrews12:2 #fixyoureyesonjesus #crossofjesus
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3


Sunday, February 11, 2018

Trusting in the Unseen


     The smallest packet of light energy is called the photon. The rod photoreceptors of the eye are so sensitive they can detect just one photon of light. Under optimal conditions at night, the human eye can see a flickering candle almost fourteen miles away! Birds of prey, such as the eagle and hawk, have 3-4 times better daytime acuity than we do—able to see rabbits and rodents at two miles away. And the kings of nighttime vision are, of course, owls and cats.

     As incredible as our vision is, our sight still has limits and we can never see what tomorrow will bring. That’s what faith, hope, and trust are for, and God tells us in Psalm 32:8 (NIV), “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” If we keep our senses and eyes focused on Christ and on the spiritual things of God above, He promises to be attentive to our prayers, and bask us in His unfailing love; “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,” (Psalm 33:18 NIV) and “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;” (Psalm 34:15 NIV).  

     Therefore, beloved child of God, we live in a world that is temporary and full of illusions, and as wonderful as our visual system is, it can be deceived like a mirage, so focus on the spiritual in your mind’s eye, just as we are admonished:

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV 

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The Apple of Your Eye

You are the apple of God's eye; His most beloved and cherished child. May God be the apple of your eye too! I'm praying for you!
Deuteronomy 32:10
Psalm 17:8
Proverbs 7:2
Lamentations 2:18
Zechariah 2:8

Sunday, February 4, 2018

The Apple of His Eye


     Vision is an amazing miracle from the hands of God. The eye is second only to the brain in complexity and almost half of the brain, the visual cortex, the entire posterior portion of the brain, is dedicated to our visual perceptions and understandings. Each eye contains over 120 million rods dedicated to our peripheral and night vision and 7 million central cones (red, green, and blue receptors) dedicated to the full spectrum of our color and central detailed vision. Incredibly, our visual system can perceive almost 10 million different color shades and 500 different shades of gray. The eye is ever instantly prepared to receive a light signal, initiating a chemical change in the receptor’s photopigments, creating an electrical signal, which flows down certain of the over 100 million optic nerve fibers, ultimately and almost instantly being analyzed into a visual image by the visual cortex of the brain. The process is continual and ongoing until our eyes are closed.

     You, beloved child of God, are created in His image with His loving eyes always upon you, just as David wrote in Psalm 17:8 (NIV), “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Be strong and take courage for He is ever with you and will always see you through. “I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8 NIV).