Introduction
Have you ever looked back on your life and realized that God was teaching you things long before you understood what He was doing?
When I first started attending a Christian church, my understanding of God was very shallow. I heard people talk about salvation, faith, and having a relationship with God, but I did not fully understand what those things meant. My focus was mostly on the things of this world, and I was spiritually blind to the deeper realities of God’s Kingdom.
As my relationship with God grew, He gradually opened my spiritual eyes and began teaching me lessons that completely changed the way I viewed life. He showed me the importance of salvation, the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Him, the value of His Word, the condition of the human heart, and the truth that everything belongs to Him.
Most importantly, God taught me that people often judge by what they can see, but He looks much deeper. He examines the heart, the motives behind our actions, and the true condition of our relationship with Him.
Looking back now, I can see that God was patiently leading me step by step. What once seemed ordinary has become part of a journey through which He taught me to see life from His perspective rather than my own.
Part 1: God Opened My Spiritual Eyes to Understand Salvation
When I was still new to attending a Christian church, one of my friends told me that I should draw closer to God because God could use me as a way to help lead my family to salvation.
At that time, those words did not mean much to me. Looking back, I realize that my understanding was very shallow because I was still spiritually blind. I simply ignored what my friend said because I did not truly understand it.
However, as my relationship with God grew, I remembered those words. Looking back now, I am amazed and deeply thankful that God opened my spiritual eyes. Before that, I had no idea how important salvation truly was.
I used to think that life was simply about living in this world and enjoying it while we are still alive. But God showed me a much deeper reality. He helped me understand that knowing the name of Jesus is not enough.
Even demons know who Jesus is, yet they do not love Him, trust Him, belong to Him, or have a relationship with Him.
James 2:19 (NLT)
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
God showed me that true salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone and that He is the only way to eternal life.
John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
When God revealed these truths to me, it moved me deeply. Sometimes it even brought me to tears because I realized that not everyone sees what God has allowed me to see, and not everyone understands what He has taught me.
That is why I pray for people and share with them about God’s Kingdom and His glory. Ultimately, only God can open a person’s spiritual eyes.
Part 2: Salvation Is More Than Attending Church
God also taught me that salvation is not simply about attending church or being present every Sunday. Salvation involves a genuine relationship with Him.
When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repents of their sins, that is only the beginning of the journey. There is still much growth and transformation ahead.
I often think of it like applying for a job.
First, you hear about a job opportunity. Then you submit your application. After that, you are called for an interview. Once hired, you go through training before finally beginning your work.
In a similar way, God works through a process in our spiritual lives.
We hear His Word. We receive Him. He trains and transforms us. Then He calls us to walk in obedience and fulfill the purpose He has prepared for us.
This is how the Word of God grows in our lives—from a seed to a fruitful harvest.
I discuss this in more detail in my article, “From Seed to Fruit: Understanding Spiritual Growth Through the Word of God.”
Because of this, we should never ignore God’s Word. Our very lives depend upon it.
God continually calls people to Himself, yet many fail to respond because they are unwilling to listen. When people ignore God, they often follow their own perspectives and desires, leading them toward destruction and ultimately the second death.
Hosea 4:6 (NLT)
My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.
Ephesians 4:18 (NLT)
Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
Matthew 22:29 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.
Romans 10:3 (NLT)
For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.
Part 3: God’s Mercy Toward Repentant Sinners
God taught me that no matter how sinful a person may be, His mercy remains available to those who sincerely repent and return to Him.
That is why we should cry out to God, ask for His mercy, repent of our sins, and invite Him to transform our hearts, minds, and actions according to His will.
God promises to hear those who humble themselves before Him.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
Jeremiah 3:22 (NLT)
“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the Lord our God.
What amazes me most is the depth of God’s love and compassion.
Even though we have sinned greatly against Him, He is willing to forgive us when we genuinely return to Him. He guides us, teaches us, and leads us back onto the path that aligns with the Father’s will.
Hosea 14:4 (NLT)
The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.
Isaiah 57:18 (NLT)
I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn,
Isaiah 44:22 (NLT)
I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”
Part 4: God Looks at the Motives of the Heart
One day, God showed me something through social media.
I saw people publicly giving blessings and helping others. To those watching, these individuals appeared kind, generous, and compassionate.
However, God reminded me that He sees what people cannot see.
He sees the motives hidden within the human heart.
A person may give generously, yet the true motive behind their actions may not be love for God or love for others. Instead, they may be seeking attention, recognition, popularity, followers, or praise from people.
Outwardly, their actions appear good. Yet inwardly, their focus is centered on themselves.
God showed me that not everything that appears good to people is necessarily pleasing in His sight.
That is why Jesus taught that giving should be done quietly and privately.
Matthew 6:3-4 (NLT)
3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Jesus understood that many people perform good deeds primarily to be seen and admired by others.
By giving privately, our focus remains on pleasing God rather than seeking human approval.
Matthew 23:5 (NLT)
“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.
John 12:43 (NLT)
For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
God taught me that His pleasure is not based merely on what we do but on the motives behind what we do.
Part 5: The Difference Between Cain’s Heart and Abel’s Heart
God further taught me this truth through the story of Cain and Abel.
Genesis 4:3-12 (NLT)
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. 12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
From this account, we can see the condition of both men’s hearts.
Abel’s offering was rooted in faith, devotion, and love for God. He offered his best to the Lord because God held first place in his life.
His heart belonged to God.
Cain, however, treated God as secondary. His own desires mattered more to him than honoring the Lord.
The evil hidden within Cain’s heart became evident through his jealousy, anger, and ultimately his decision to murder his brother.
God saw the condition of Cain’s heart, and that is why his offering was not accepted.
Hebrews 11:4 (NLT)
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
1 John 3:12 (NLT)
We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.
This story taught me that God evaluates much more than outward actions. He examines the heart behind them.
Part 6: Why I No Longer Judge People by Appearances
As my relationship with God continued to grow, one of the greatest lessons He repeatedly taught me was how I view other people.
Because of this, I try not to judge others based solely on what I see.
People may look at someone’s actions and quickly conclude whether that person is good or bad. But God knows far more than we do. He sees the full picture. He knows every circumstance, struggle, motive, and hidden detail.
One example God brought to my mind involved a situation where someone borrowed money but was unable to repay it because of difficult circumstances.
The lender became angry and publicly shamed the person, exposing them before others.
Yet God sees everything.
He knows why the person was unable to pay. He knows whether the borrowed money was used wisely or foolishly. He knows the hidden realities that no one else can see.
At the same time, such situations can also expose selfishness within the lender’s own heart.
Sometimes people focus only on their personal desires, reputation, or financial interests while ignoring the suffering of someone else.
Through situations like these, God reminded me that He sees far beyond human judgment.
Part 7: Everything Belongs to God
God also taught me another important truth: everything belongs to Him.
Many people act as though what they possess belongs entirely to them. But the reality is that everything we have ultimately comes from God.
We are merely stewards of what He has entrusted to us.
We entered this world with nothing, and we will leave with nothing.
Psalm 24:1 (NLT)
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Job 41:11 (NLT)
Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine.
Job 1:21 (NLT)
21 He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”
Ecclesiastes 5:15 (NLT)
We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
1 Timothy 6:7 (NLT)
After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.
Psalm 49:17 (NLT)
For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
Everything belongs to God.
Our lives, possessions, abilities, opportunities, and blessings are all gifts from Him.
Part 8: A Call to Return to God
Now is the time to return to God.
Now is the time to repent of sin.
Now is the time to surrender your heart completely to Him.
God created you with a purpose—to live for His glory, not your own.
Everything comes from Him, belongs to Him, and exists for Him.
Therefore, seek Him wholeheartedly.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Ask God to transform your heart and make you into the person He desires you to be.
Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT)
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
Hebrews 8:10-12 (NLT)
But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already.
12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
Final Reflection
As I look back on everything God has taught me, I am amazed by His patience, mercy, and faithfulness.
He opened my spiritual eyes to understand that salvation is not merely about knowing His name or attending church, but about having a genuine relationship with Him. He taught me that He looks beyond what people can see and examines the motives of the heart. He showed me that faith, obedience, humility, and surrender are more important than seeking the approval of people.
Through His Word, God revealed that people often judge based on what they see on the outside, but He sees what no one else can see. He knows the thoughts, intentions, struggles, desires, and motives hidden within every heart. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Most importantly, He taught me that everything belongs to Him. Our lives, possessions, abilities, and blessings are not truly our own—they are gifts entrusted to us by God. We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out of it. Because of this, our lives should be lived for His glory rather than our own.
If there is one thing I have learned from this journey, it is this: do not ignore God’s call. Seek Him while He may be found. Repent, surrender your heart to Him, and allow Him to transform you from the inside out. God is rich in mercy, ready to forgive, and faithful to those who sincerely seek Him.
The same God who opened my eyes can open yours as well. If you seek Him wholeheartedly, you will find Him.
Related Articles
• From Spiritual Blindness to Spiritual Understanding
• From Knowing About God to Truly Knowing Him
• What Is The Circumcision Of The Heart
• The Secret That Touches God’s Heart: Humility
• From Seed to Fruit: Understanding Spiritual Growth Through the Word of God
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