Seeing Through God’s Gaze

…the light of the body is the eye: If therefore the eye be single, the whole body shall be full of light(Matt 6:22)

The word “gaze” is very important in the domains of film, photography and literature. It carries heavy connotations in psychoanalysis, philosophy and sociology. But, put simply, “gaze” is the act of seeing; it is how you perceive the world, yourself and others. Another word for “gaze” would be “perspective” and, as you may know, perspective is everything. In critical theory, the “gaze” is considered particularly sensitive because it often defines the power relations between groups. People often speak of “the white gaze”, “the imperial gaze”, “the male gaze”. These aforementioned “gazes” usually carry negative connotations in that they perpetuate structures of oppression(and hegemony) against certain groups of people. In other words, our secularized modern world is structured by sets of gazes that pigeonhole us –as individuals and collectives– into certain identities labels. But what if we didn’t see the world through these problematic gazes? What if we saw the world through the gaze of God? What does the gaze of God look like?

A very important lesson about “gazes” and “perspectives” is that our perception of reality often carries more weight than reality itself. A poor man may perceive himself as rich while a rich man may see himself as poor. Someone may consider himself a failure while others around him see him as a success and vice versa. This perception then defines each individual’s pursuit of happiness, satisfaction and overall disposition to life. But the more important question is: how does God see you and your situation? It goes without saying that God’s gaze is the Real gaze and it is not impossible for us to see everything through it. In fact, everything transforms radically when we begin to see life through the eye of God. This is why Paul prays that the “eye of our understanding” be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). It is also why I like that song that states: “God I look to you. Give me vision to see things like you do”. It is the reason why I love the nursery rhyme: “God be in my eye and in my seeing/God be in my head and in my understanding/ God be in my heart and in my thinking”…

God’s gaze is not oppressive, it is a gaze of grace. When I look at myself through God’s gaze, I realize how much I am loved, blessed, forgiven, redeemed and wonderfully made. Therefore, I have no identity crisis or a distortive perception of myself because my identity is solidly shaped by how God sees me and what He says of me. When I look at my surroundings through God’s gaze, I see the genius of God in the beauty of nature. The heavens tell of His glory and the firmament declares the wonder of His work. The oceans roar his greatness, the mountain bow in reverence to him. In fact, the whole creation is His oeuvre, his masterpiece. Nature becomes more meaningful to me because I see it through God’s gaze. Hence, I see the world in awe and wonder when I see through God’s gaze.

By seeing others through God’s gaze, I become more compassionate and loving. I forgive easily. I become more passionate about evangelism because I do not want anyone to perish but that we all have eternal life (John 3:16). When I see life through God’s gaze, I begin to live with eternity in view; I realize that my life here on earth is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4:14). The world’s gaze makes us lust after power, position, prestige and possessions; it brands competition as a virtuous thing. But God’s gaze illustrates humility, kindness, gentleness and other fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). When I see my situation  through God’s grace, I realize that all things work together for my good and am assured that the thoughts of God towards me are thoughts of good and not of evil (Jeremiah 29:11).

To see through God’s gaze is to see through the lens of His words. It is to turn our eyes upon Jesus as the things of the world grow strangely dim. It is to tune our ears to what God says per minute. It is to have God’s perspective on life and that is where true wisdom lies.