The Enigma Quandary 

Becareful What You Set Your Sights Upon 

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In This Issue
Introduction to the Enigma Experience
Remedy for the Enigma Quandary
Summary

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The Enigma Quandary

 Be careful what you set your sights upon 

 Contributing Editor: Tiffany L. Mathews
Greetings!

 

The word Enigma means a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation. The Bible is filled with examples of enigmas. Here are a few of the thousands of examples of scripture versus that enginma's are used:

 

  1. Now we see but a poor 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. (1 Cor. 13:12)
  2. The light of the body is the eye, if your eye is single your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness, and how great is that darkness. (Mat. 6:22-23)
  3. The eyes of your understanding be enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. (Eph. 1:18-19)

 

The Bible as well as everyday life includes many enigmas that the average person contemplates and solves. In fact, for unsaved people the whole idea of salvation is a puzzle or even foolishness. "But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Cor. 1:23). Taking enigmas one step further we would be entertaining the word called 'Mystery.' The word mystery actually appears 38 times in the Bible. The apostle Paul reveals many of the mysteries and shares those in the Pauline Epistles in order to make them comprehendible to some, and enigmas to others.

 

In the Old Testament, Daniel had an extraordinary spirit and was able to explain every day enigmas. "This was because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and insight, interpretation of dreams, explanation of enigmas and solving of difficult problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Let Daniel now be summoned and he will declare the interpretation." (Daniel 5:12 ) (NASV)

 

This spiritual bulletin is intended to garner your attention on one of the enigmas of our day, and that is what we 'see, and focus on' is eventually what we believe.

 

 

Introduction to the Enigma Experience

 

Figure-1 below is a famous image of an illusion called the Enigma design by Isia Leviant (1981), Palais de la D�couverte, Paris. As you stare at the center object (Magenta circle) you will eventually see the outer circles appear to rotate, or the lines between the circles start to move. You can scroll your screen up and down and see a few other illusions or enigmas base on this static image.  

 

If you did not see any movement in figure-1, take a look at figure-2, which is also a static picture where the multiple pinwheels appear to be moving when combined with each other. 


Figure-1 FIGURE 1 - The Enigma Design 

 

 

 

Figure-2

  FIGURE 2 - Pinwheel Illusion
 

 

The purpose of these images within this spiritual bulletin is to illustrate the importance of what we are 'seeing' and 'focusing' our eyes, sight, and mind upon. The reality of life and circumstances is that what we set our eyes upon and start focusing on begins the process of determining what we envision and believe. What we start seeing and believing becomes so 'true' in our eyes and mind that we can't see the real truth behind the thing we are focused our vision upon. This is the very reason that Jesus asks the Pharisees what they when out to 'see' when they went to hear John the Baptist (Matthew 11:7-10). Jesus was less interested in what they heard than what they saw. The reason for his question is simple; God knows that what we 'See' will eventually be what we believe.

 

One of the main reasons so many people are unfocused and disillusioned in life is that the center of their view or reference point may not be the proper reference point. Below are a few examples of the wrong primary reference points.

  • If I put my marriage at the center of my sight, before long I start seeing or imagining things moving around my marriage; but in reality they are not actually moving.
  • If I put church at the center of my sight, before long I start seeing or imagining things moving around my church or pastor; but in reality they are not actually moving.
  • If I put my job/career at the center of my sight, before long I start seeing or imagining things moving around my job/career; but in reality they are not actually moving.
  • If I put my self at the center of my sight, before long I start seeing or imagining things moving around my self; but in reality they are not actually moving.

If you could step back and imagine placing non-primary things at the center of your 'sights' you may be able to imagine how your view would or could get distorted. Worse yet, if you multiplied the number of wrong 'views' at the center of the pin-wheel diagram in figure-2, you would quickly start imagining that multiple things were moving, when in actually they are staying the same. This is why so many people get near the end of their life and realize that not much has actuality changed. I guess we could state that this is the enigma quandary of our life; how many things have really changed vs. what we thought was changing? If we were honest we would all admit that God has given us the keys to the Kingdom and we can lock and unlock things --- meaning things can change, can be broken, can be restored and be changed. Unfortunately, many people have set their primary sights on the earthly things such as marriage, job, money, career, retirement, body, health, or self.

 

 

What is the Remedy for the Enigma Quandary?

 

The only remedy that truly can help us set are sights on the true center (reference point) so that we see the right things moving around the correct center of truth is to follow scripture in it's simplest form when it comes to what we should set our sights upon.

 

  1. Be born-again - Jesus told Nicodemus that he could never 'See' the movement of the Kingdom if he was not born-again. (John 3:3)
  2. Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and the then all the other things will follow and be added unto you. (Mat. 6:33). We must put the Kingdom first so all secondary things start revolving around the Kingdom.
  3. Set-your affections on heavenly things versus earthly things - "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Col. 3:1-2)

On one side of the enigma quandary, Pam and I have taken many arrows of accusations stating that we were often times too focused on heavenly things and/or that our expectations for heavenly things were set too high. We are pleased that after all these years that our choice to put heavenly things and the Kingdom of God in the center of our 'sights' has paid huge dividends. It has also allowed us to see and experience the greater things that Jesus referenced. On the other side of the enigma quandary we have seen people who placed their earthly needs, concerns, and ideas that were more tangible at the center of their sights, and now reap the fruit of earthly things. I must say; heavenly things taste far better, last far longer, and bring God far greater credit and glory. God's word can and will not lie; nor will the vision He gives people perish if they put Him and His Kingdom at the center of their sights. Through time and focusing on the Kingdom we can say with the Psalmist -- Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalms 34:8).

 

The enigma of our day is starting to become very visible. As stated, the enigma of our day is that people have set their center sights on things other than the Kingdom of God and/or heavenly promises. Many people have sought politics, religion, social church, feel good music, self body painting & piercings, ministers, spouses, jobs, careers, money, leisure, retirement, fitness, food, health and other trends to be at the center of their vision and sights. Even though we can argue that most of these things are acceptable, and even good in moderation, we cannot compete against the center of our life being focused on God's Kingdom and his righteousness.

 

One of the enigma scriptures I used (Matthew 6:22-23) states that the light of the body is the eye and if your eye is clear, your whole body should be full of light, but if your eye is full of darkness, your whole body will be full of darkness. This passage is proceeded and followed with the admonishment that wherever you see you treasure, is where your heart will also be; and that you cannot serve two masters. (Mat. 6:21;24).

 

 


Summary

In many respects our eyes are the window into our body, mind, and soul. It is critical for us to be careful what we 'see' and what we don't see. As you have learned from the images in figure-1 and figure-2 when we focus on a center point (reference point) our eyes and mind have the capability of seeing things that are not really true. This same concept applies in other images or walks of life. How did a gambler become a gambler, or how did a adulterer become an adultery, or how did a thief become a thief, or how did a addict become an addict, how did a marriage end in divorce, how did a believer become an unbeliever? The answer to these questions is never simple or easy. However, in almost all cases it starts by setting our vision on the wrong reference points. Below is a nice reminder of how important it is to watch what we set our sights upon.

 

Watch your eyes and what reference points you set your sight upon.

Watch your sight, for it may become what you start focusing on.

Watch what you focus on, for it may be what you believe.

Watch what you believe, for it may become what you dwell upon.

Watch what you dwell upon, for it may be what or whom you serve.

Watch what and whom you serve, for it may become your destiny!

 

In Christ's Love,

 

Michael and Pamela Mathews

 

[email protected]

[email protected]

 

For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD. Habakkuk 2:14