Posted on April 28, 2010 - by Stephen Murray

Seeing your City with God’s Eyes

I spend most weekday mornings in the inner city of Cape Town. It’s probably my single most favourite place in South Africa, maybe the world. Where else can you experience the buzz and excitement of a vibrant city and at the same time be at the foot of a majestic mountain? I spend a lot of time in coffee shops enjoying the mix of people, the sounds, the tastes and the general feel that seems to emanate from this diverse city. There’s so much to love here.

This morning we had perfect weather in the city, sun was shining, no wind, not too hot, not too cool – just perfect. I went for a walk down St George’s Mall (think outdoor paved street – not suburban shopping mall). Somewhere along the walk I had an epiphany (as you do on days with extraordinarily good weather): I don’t see the city the way God sees it. Let me explain…

Here’s my view (the crass version): The city exists for me, it exists to fulfill my desires – and they’re numerous. My desire to feel like I’m at the centre of an important city at an important time (basically the desire to feel important). My desire to feel hipster – this city is full of them/us? My desire to feel in community – there are people everywhere. My desire simply for fun – it’s a seriously cool place to hang out. The city exists for me.

God’s view of the city: The city exists for God’s glory and his purposes. Now a quick walk down the streets and you might be mistaken for thinking that the city exists for the exact opposite. So there’s huge economic inequality, racial tension, broken sexuality, anything but what you’d expect to bring glory to God.

I think the pre-fall trajectory of scripture suggests to me that God’s intention is that this city and all the creativity that comes from the hands of men should be for the glory of God and the furtherance of his purposes. In terms of God’s plans for the world I don’t think that trajectory changes after the fall – the difference now is that we mess everything up by our open rebellion against God. For me then to see things through God’s eyes is to put on pre-fall goggles and see what he wants for this city and not what I want from it.

Seeing the city through God’s eyes means seeing the economic inequality and wanting to be involved in addressing it. Seeing the city through God’s eyes means seeing the racial tension and wanting to be an agent of peace. Seeing the city through God’s eyes means  seeing the broken sexuality and wanting to be a healer. It means seeing all the good things in the city and rejoicing in God’s common grace so obviously evident here. It means seeing what should be instead of seeing only what I selfishly want.

I want to see this city through God’s eyes – I want my desires to be changed.