Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

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    I stumbled across the writings and artwork of a fascinating Christian missionary this past week.  Her name is Lilias Trotter.  A British girl, born in 1853, Lilias was a naturally gifted painter.  She was privileged to be mentored by a well respected art critic who is quoted as saying that Lilias could have been one of the greatest artists of that day.  Lilias lost her father as a child and found comfort in her Heavenly Father.  She spent her time serving the homeless in London's inner city and painting until the art mentor gave her an ultimatum.  If she wanted to be a great artist, she would need to give up her charity work and devote herself entirely to her painting.  After prayer and discussing with trusted friends, Lilias realized that she did need to be completely focused on one passion to fulfill the calling God had given her.  She chose to move into a life of full-time evangelism in Algeria.  Imagine a single woman in the later 1800's,  moving to the predominately Muslim desert in Northern Africa!   She gave up an opportunity to possibly become one of the most prestigious artist of that time to share the love of Jesus in a dry, destitute and dangerous place.  There are several books of her writings in print, some including her beautiful artwork on the pages.  One in particular, The Sevenfold Secret, is a tool that has been used by many to reach the hearts of Muslims for Jesus.  It is based on the seven "I AM" statements of Jesus in the book of John and is written specifically for the Sufi Mystics, the particular branch of Islam predominately practiced in the area of Algeria that Lilias served.  There is a beautiful documentary on her life called Many Beautiful Things.   If you are interested, you can click on the link to learn much more about the life of this lady who was fully devoted to the God of the Bible. 

    Lilias Trotter's life has been inspirational to many throughout the years.  One particular quote of hers was particularly challenging to a friend of hers, Helen Lemmel. 

"Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him,..." from Focussed; A Story and A Song by Lilias Trotter

    This quote inspired Helen Lemmel to write the words to a song that many of you will recognize, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." (linked to Shane and Shane's version of this beautiful hymn - but there are so many beautiful renditions available by wonderful artists.)

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Thro' death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion--
For more than conqu’rors we are! 

His Word shall not fail you--He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

    I have been so convicted and challenged in my brief time of looking at the life of Lilias Trotter. Am I so focused on Jesus that all else pales in comparison to His glory? I pray that we all will learn to keep our eyes on Jesus. His Word gives us the encouragement and direction. We just need to follow. Allow the distractions of this world to fade into the background as we keep our focus on the calling that Jesus places before us -- whatever that may be.

    If one woman who gave over 40 years of her life to focus solely on sharing Jesus in the deserts of Africa can still impact lives around the world a century later, imagine what a church, united in this focus, could accomplish for the cause of Christ?

💓 Heather Sparks💓

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