EYE EXAM: HINDSIGHT – PART 1

One area in life where we need to have good eyesight is in hindsight. Read the following as an eye exam to determine how good your hindsight is. In the next couple of weeks, I will offer an eye exam for insight and foresight.

Poor hindsight can cause us to feel like we have accomplished everything on our own. Poor hindsight creates an attitude that it’s “all about me.” We quickly take credit and even tell people what we’ve done. Poor hindsight leads to pride and an unhealthy way of thinking about ourselves.

Good hindsight helps us see how good God has been to us in the past. We have accomplished things because He is responsible for our accomplishments. When we accurately see God’s benevolent grace in the past, we see clearly everything we need for the present and the future!

Moses had good hindsight when he reminded the people of Israel (and us) that “you are living in cities that you did not build, drinking from wells that you did not dig, and eating from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant.” (Deuteronomy 6:10-12) Our present situation is possible only because of God’s involvement in our lives in the past.

I read how a city in the Midwest honored a citizen who was ultra-successful financially. They had a big banquet. The whole community turned out. The honored guest was invited to speak.

Through a voice that was a little bit uncertain, he said, “I am grateful to this town. You have been good to me.”

He said, “I walked into town 30 years ago with nothing but the clothes on my back and a red bandana on a stick. Everything I had in life was wrapped up in that red bandana. But you accepted me and gave me a chance.”

Afterwards a young high school boy walked up to the successful man and said, “Your story was incredible. Would you mind my asking you what you had in the red bandana?”

The man looked at him and smiled and said, “I had $500,000 in cash and $900,000 in government securities.”

Good hindsight is seeing that red bandana filled with everything God has given us physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Being alive and having a redeemed heart is our greatest possession!

Poor hindsight sees the bad things that have happened to us. Poor hindsight leads to relying on what we can do and complaining about what we can’t do. This causes us to spiral downward and be swallowed up in negativity. Conversely, good hindsight helps us see how blessed we are, and that God has given us a great future.

David had good hindsight when he said, “Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things He does for me. He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving kindness and tender mercy. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagles.” (Psalm 103:2-5)

Our hindsight is the result of our choosing what to see. Good news! The Great Physician is the One who can correct hindsight and make it 20/20!

How is your hindsight?