Today when I was walking across campus I saw a student that I see very frequently on campus. He is about 6 feet tall, has glasses and a certain way that he walks, so I knew for sure it was him. However, he wasn’t looking at me so when we were about 20 feet apart I said, “what’s up, I keep bumping into you everywhere!”
He looked up at me and after another three steps I realized why he had that confused look on his face. It wasn’t who I thought it was. Feeling awkward, I scrambled for the words which barely came out as he was walking by me. I stammered something to the effect of “Uhhh…I thought you were someone else, sorry.”
It reminded me of I Corinthians 13:12 which says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” (NKJV)
I think this verse and this situation carries within it some helpful principles for Christian living and for Christian leadership.
We can feel so certain about some things in this life, just like I was so certain that I was talking to my friend. But sometimes, even when we are really really sure about something, we end up being wrong in the end.
Don’t misunderstand me. We can know a great deal about life and we can know the most important things, and the commands and truths that God requires us to believe, and to live through a careful reading of Scripture.
Beyond that, a Christian leader should be able to see further than the crowd, and should lead decisively not with a perpetual hesitancy or uncertainty. This would be paralyzing and totally ineffective.
However, whether in respect to Christian living or Christian leadership, I think it is helpful to always remember – nobody knows everything. Nobody sees perfectly. Not even you. We see with a limited perspective, and with limited knowledge, dimly.