Have you ever looked at one of those pictures that has a picture in a picture. When you first glance at it all you see is the obvious. In other words you may see a picture of a mans head, but when you take the time to refocus it may turn into a picture of an animal. Were you able to see the picture in the picture above. I have always been intrigued by these pictures and I will usually stay until I see what was not initially obvious.
I think our lives are like that. You may see the obvious but miss the hidden picture of your situation. Let me give you an example. It was nearing Christmas and the college I was attending closed down for Christmas break. I was heading back home but ended leaving late in the day. I was really looking forward to seeing my family and could not wait to get back home. I left the Minneapolis area and as I was entering into Wisconsin I heard a call for help on my CB radio. A trucker had broken down along the interstate and he needed a lift. I hesitated for a moment since it was already late night but thought I would help him get to a place where he could stay warm and get the help he needed. . Well I ended up taking them all the way to their destination. Which was in my general direction but involved leaving the interstate. Some of you may be thinking that was a real dumb thing to do since you had no idea of who you were picking up. All I can say is that at the time I really felt impressed that this is what God wanted me to do.
There were two drivers that got into my car. They were team driving and the company was sending equipment to remove the tractor and trailer. Well one went off to sleep right away in the crowded back seat. It was nearly full with all of the holiday gifts I was carrying back to Milwaukee. However the second driver who sat in the passenger seat and I talked for several hours. We talked about his life and he shared a sad story. Over those two hours I shared with him the love of God and this gentleman absorbed it seemed every word that I shared. In that car the presence of the almighty seemed as thick as honey and even more sweet. I could not just drop them off at a truck stop when I felt that God had ordained this visit. We both were changed that night, this driver because of the hope and spiritual insights he had received. I was changed also for God was going to teach me my own lesson in practical Christian living. That night I felt like a vessel that God had and filled with His love and mercy and I was able to pour what he had entrusted me with into this man’s heart. All I can say is I felt so close to this gentleman when he left. After I had dropped them off and as I drove away I raised my hands to heaven and thanked God for this encounter. I remember feeling so close to God as we worked as a team that night to give this man hope. Me the vessel God the anointing. . I know this will sound strange but the atmosphere inside that car that night was so spiritually charged I asked God for a miracle. I was not specific, I just asked for something supernatural. I remember as soon as the last word left my mouth all of the things I had stored on my drivers visor fell down and hit my forehead on their way to my lap. I inhaled sharply, I was so surprised and I remembered saying “Lord maybe I am not quite ready for that”. I think both God and I laughed together. However it was when I came back down to earth I noticed my gauges. I had been so involved in my conversation I had forgotten to fuel my vehicle as I had planned along the interstate. I was now far off the interstate and the time was nearly one in the morning. I felt a sense of panic, this was back in 1976 and we did not have self service gas stations at that time. How could I have been so stupid I thought. The fuel gauge stayed unmoving on empty. I remember asking God for help and then grabbing the microphone on my CB and speaking into the empty night for someone that might know of a place where I could fuel my car. I really did not expect anyone to answer. After leaving the interstate all the chatter had ceased. Then a strong masculine voice spoke to me through the speaker and said that there was a gas station that was open just ahead of me and not to worry that he was right behind me if I were to need him. I was surprised that someone had answered, I was amazed that this person even knew where I was and what direction I was driving. Sure enough about a mile a head in the middle of the night, miles from any city there it was a gas station, and it was open. I pulled up to the pump and got out of my car, I wanted to wave to this stranger and thank him but no one came and no one answered on the CB. Then a voice seemed to speak inside my head and said you wanted me to light the sky but really what you needed was a tank of gas. I have never forgotten that night for it seemed that God had shown me a picture of Himself I had never seen. Again as I stood there I felt overwhelmed with gratefulness and appreciation. I have often wondered if the man who pumped my gas was there because he couldn’t sleep that night or if he was an angel. To me either way he was an angel whether the human kind or the heavenly kind it does not matter. Remember the picture you see may have a picture in a picture and do not be hasty in assuming you see everything that God wants you to see initially.
I would like to share another story about a man in scripture called Stephen. He is found in the seventh chapter of the book of Acts. Stephen was chosen by the disciples to serve the widows of the early church. Stephen was a very zealous kind of a guy and very fervent for his faith and the gospel message. He was very much like Paul in the sense that he was very zealous and outspoken in his faith. The religious and pious leaders of the Sanhedrin sought to quiet his preaching just as they did to the other disciples and to Christ himself. However the more they tried to quiet him the more vocal he became. He reminded them of the hypocrisy of their fathers and the pattern of their apostasy through the generations. It reached the point where they could not tolerate him any longer and when everything seemed to be headed in the wrong direction and as Stephen saw the storm of hatred encompassing him, God opened up the picture to reveal a picture within a picture.
Acts 7 New International Version
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Can you imagine that, can you see Stephens face as it shines as bright as an angel. As far as we know Stephen is the only one that saw this picture in a picture but it carried him through the stones they used to quiet his voice. Your picture in a picture may not change your circumstances, but it will most surely change your perspective of what you are going through.
Maybe today your picture looks gloomy, maybe it looks overwhelming and you feel like Stephen and you’re certain that there is no way out of where you’re at. Just keep doing what God has called you to do for soon you may see a picture in a picture. You may be amazed that it was there all the time and you had not seen it before.