They Shall See Eye to Eye

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The voice of Your watchmen shall be lifted up! They lift up the voice together; they sing aloud, for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD returns again to Zion. (Isaiah 52:8 AFV)

Isaiah paints an amazing picture of God’s people standing on the walls of Zion, watching and waiting for the Lord to act. For a long time the watchmen may have seen only fragments of the picture. One stood on one section of the wall and another stood elsewhere. Their perspectives were by nature of where they were standing, different. Just as today we see all the different viewpoints of different denominations, the Bible says that the day would come when God Himself would return to Zion, and the Bible says “they shall see eye to eye.”

This promise points beyond mere agreements between people. Human beings can sometimes agree and still be wrong. The great need of the church is not simply unity with one another, but unity in seeing what God is doing. And just WHO God is. Friends, when the Lord reveals Himself, confusion gives way to clarity. Personal opinions, cherished assumptions, and limited denominated viewpoints are surrendered to a clearer vision of His character, His truth, and His purposes.

The closer we come to Christ, the closer we will all become to one another. (1 John 1:7) Differences that arise from pride, self-interest, and human wisdom begin to fade in the light of His presence. At Pentecost, the disciples were “with one accord in one place” (not doctrinally) before the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them (Acts 2:1). Their unity was not manufactured; it wasn’t faked, it was the result of hearts surrendered to the same Lord, for the same reason.

It is not the ready speaker, the sharp intellect, that counts with God. It is the earnest purpose, the deep piety, the love of truth, the fear of God, that has a telling influence. A testimony from the heart, coming from lips in which is no guile, full of faith and humble trust, though given by a stammering tongue, is accounted of God as precious as gold; while the smart speech, the eloquent oratory, of the one to whom is entrusted large talents, but who is wanting in truthfulness, in steadfast purpose, in purity, in unselfishness, are as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. He may say witty things, he may relate amusing anecdotes, he may play upon the feelings; but the spirit of Jesus is not in it. All these things may please unsanctified hearts, but God holds in His hands the balances that weigh the words, the spirit, the sincerity, the devotion, and He pronounces it altogether lighter than vanity {6BC 1091.4}

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12, ESV)

Isaiah’s prophecy also has special significance for the last days. God’s people today often see only parts of the larger picture in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Depending on what faith background they come from. Yet as the final events unfold and God’s purposes become fully revealed, faithful watchmen will recognize the leading of the Lord and proclaim His message with one voice. Their unity will not be based on compromise but on a shared vision of Jesus Christ, that they have personally witnessed, and personally understood from Scripture. (1 John 1:1-3) It will be their actual lived experience and personal testimony to have the same Biblical views of our Creator/God.

Those whom the Lamb shall lead by the fountains of living waters, and from whose eyes He shall wipe away all tears, will be those now receiving the knowledge and understanding revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. We are to copy no human being. There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the pattern man. His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain. His character is our model. Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities and the difficulties of this life, and fix them on Him, that by beholding we may be changed into His likeness. We may behold Christ to good purpose. We may safely look to Him; for He is all-wise. As we look to Him and think of Him, He will be formed within, the hope of glory. {7BC 970.8,9}

The promise remains: when the Lord brings again Zion, His people “will see eye to eye” because they will be looking together at Him. The clearer our vision of Christ becomes today, the more fully this promise begins to be fulfilled in our lives.

“Christ had finished the work that was given Him to do. He had glorified God on the earth. He had manifested the Father’s name. He had gathered out those who were to continue His work among men. And He said, “I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.” “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; . . . I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” {DA 680.3}

May the Lord open our eyes to see Him more clearly. May our Creator remove any pride, prejudice, or self will that is preventing us from understanding His truth. Father, God, please help us to keep our eyes fixed on Christ that we may be united in faith, purpose, love, and the fellowship that is only possible through genuine love. (1 John 1:7).) May we be faithful watchmen, ready to recognize Your leading and joyfully proclaim Your salvation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.