5/1 Strength for Today

Looking to the Heavens

Ezekiel 1:1
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.”

The book of Ezekiel was written to Israel when they were captives in the land of Babylon. Among the captives was the Prophet Ezekiel. In the verse above Ezekiel said the he “...was among the captives by the river of Chebar...” Notice that he was not the only captive, for the verse says he was among them. Yet, out of all the captives in Babylon, Ezekiel seemed to be the only one who lived above the circumstances of his life. He was the only one who looked above the clouds and saw the heavens opened. He was the only one who saw “...visions of God.” Was this because he was someone special? I think not! I believe he saw God because he chose to look towards the heavens.

Looking towards the heavens is a choice you must daily make. All the other captives in Babylon could have looked upward towards the heavens, but they chose not to do this. You must purposely choose to look above the clouds of your life because those around you are not going to motivate you to do so.

Your situation in life does not have to determine your perception of life. Ezekiel’s situation was certainly not a good situation in which to live, but he did not let his situation determine his perception of life. I know you may be living in a bad situation because of the trials you face, but you cannot allow your situation to determine your perception of life. Your perception of life can be good if you choose to look up to the heavens.

Likewise, your acquaintances of life don't have to determine your dwelling in life. Though others around Ezekiel were most likely complaining, he chose to dwell above the heavens instead of in the doldrums of captivity. You may be captive to the trials of life, but you cannot allow everyone around you to cause you to dwell in that which captivates you. You must determine to look up to the heavens.

You will only find God if you choose to look up to the heavens. Ezekiel saw God when he looked heavenward. Likewise, you will never see God in your life until you look up to the heavens. God always lives in the heavenlies, and you will never find God as long as you look down on the captivity of your life. You must look up to see God! God will always be in your life, but as long as you dwell on the captivity you will never see Him. You will only see God when you look up.

Christian, we all have our excuses as to why life is so bad, but if you will look up to the heavens you will find God working in your life. You have a choice that you must daily make; you can either look at the captivity of your trials, or you can look upward to the heavens and see God. The latter choice is always the best choice for it's in this choice that life has meaning and fulfillment. Don't be like many others who are in your condition and complain about their conditions, choose to be the one who looks up to the heavens and sees God so you can help others to see Him in their life as well.