Our Mission
Learning how to see clearly with the eyes of our hearts and learning how to truly live from our hearts.
Ephesians 1: 18-19a
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Many of us remember the Magic Eye pictures, the 3D stereograms that were so popular in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. They were pages filled with colored geometric designs but with no actual identifiable objects. One had to train ones eyes to look deeper, beyond the geometric designs to see the true picture hidden in the background. One had to train ones eyes to see the unseen. This is an excellent metaphor for the Christian walk. The unseen world which is eternal needs to be seen with the eyes of our heart. The seen world which is temporary is seen with the eyes of our body.
In the language of our metaphor, the mission of Healthy Hearts Ministries is to take the Magic Eye picture books and to help those of us who desire to “see” more clearly. Together, with God’s help, we will learn how to train our eyes to see past the geometric designs to be able to clearly see the true hidden picture. Some people can see the pictures with very little effort, others need hours and hours of practice before they can train their eyes to see. Our mission is to continue to help everyone, with whatever means it takes, to see the unseen, hidden pictures.
Jesus frequently used parables. They were stories that needed to be seen with human eyes as well as heart eyes. The disciples frequently were blind to see the real story. The more they heard, the more they began to understand how to see with the eyes of their heart. As we read Jesus’ parables over and over we understand them too. When He talks about the seeds and the soils and the sower of the seeds, we know what He means. When he talks about hidden treasure found in a field or a loving father who runs to meet his wayward son, we know what He is really talking about.
Jesus frequently used metaphors as well. When He says that He is the vine and we are the branches, we know he is not talking about literal vines and branches. When He says that He is the door, or the light of the world or the bread of life, or living water, we know what He means. When He says He is a shepherd we know what He means. In order to understand Jesus’ parables and metaphors we need to see past the obvious visual earthly story to see the real spiritual story. We need to see with the eyes of our heart.
All of those Biblical references are familiar and we’ve learned to interpret and understand them, but all of life as well needs to be understood with the eyes of our heart. Life is very confusing if we do not see well with heart eyes. There were times in the Bible when people’s eyes needed to be opened in order for them to truly see.
Review the story of Balaam in Numbers 22:31 and how he needed to see the angel in order to understand what was truly going on.
Review the story of Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6:17. When his eyes were opened to see the chariots of fire protecting him, he was truly able to understand his situation.
Review the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:31. They did not realize that they were talking to Jesus until their eyes were opened. The opening of their eyes turned their emotions 180 degrees from deep sorrow to unspeakable joy.
Moses “persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27
We cannot understand our situation and our circumstances either if we do not learn to daily see with the eyes of our heart. It is the Holy Spirit that needs to open our eyes, but we also need to train ourselves to see with the eyes of our heart. We are at war, and if we do not know that, and “see” that, we will misinterpret much of our lives. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…” Ephesians 6:12.
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
There are many good books that can help us to learn how to see with the eyes of our hearts. Please refer to suggested readings.