Eye to Eye

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion." (Isaiah 52: 8 KJV)

"Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder." (NIV)

Seeing "eye to eye" and serving "shoulder to shoulder" is a vivid image of group unity. "Every kingdom (or family, or any 'group') divided against itself will not stand (endure)." Unity is necessary for preservation of any group, and if a member depends upon the group, then the destruction of the group will also be the destruction of the individual.

For there to be "unity" and "cohesiveness" in a group, be it a nation, community, family or society, carnal or spiritual (religious), there must be a common or shared purpose or vision. All must share not only in the theoretical mission of the group, but also in its maintenance and work. Those who see "eye to eye" will work "shoulder to shoulder" and "side by side" in the group.

"And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." (Exodus 17, 11, 12 KJV)

Here is a picture of members working together! Not only were the Israelites united in battle against the Amalekites, but Moses, Aaron, and Hur were also standing "shoulder to shoulder" and "side by side"!

"I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (I Timothy 2: 8 KJV)

"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees." (Hebrews 12: 12 KJV)

Doubtless there is an allusion, in these passages to what is recorded in Exodus. All the members of the body of Christ are to be regularly engaged in "lifting up" the hands and arms of their fellow members.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133: 1 NKJV)

A famous Christian hymn captures the spirit of the above words of the Psalmist when it says -

"Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above."

To see "brethren" of a family, or members of a group, "dwell together in unity" is indeed something worth "beholding" and pondering. It is seen in those members when they have kindred views of things, when they see "eye to eye," and when they are viewed working in close harmony together, or "shoulder to shoulder."

"Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity..." (Job 10:8 NKJV)

The unity among the members of the physical body is a fit emblem of the unity among social bodies, such as the body of believers, or of the "church."

"For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent." (Zephaniah 3: 9 KJV)

It is an expression of unity in a group, not only when they see "eye to eye," and work "shoulder to shoulder" and "side by side," but also when they all "speak the same language." So the opening verse in this study spoke of God promising to "purify the lips" of his people.

In most groups there is what is called "Unity in Diversity."

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." (I Corinthians 12: 12 NKJV)

Every member has his own unique gifts and labors to offer to the group. So too in the Christian community. The body of Christ only has one "head," but it has many lessor members, all important to the overall health of the group body. There is "one" body, and thus a unity or bond of union that makes the constituent and contributing members "one with" the other members.

"I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me." (John 17: 20, 21 NKJV)

Jesus prayed for the unity of believers. To some degree this is has been, and is yet being, fulfilled. The perfect unity, however, will not become a reality till the present order of things have ended.

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4: 1-6 NKJV)

For now, every Christian is compelled by the word and Spirit of God to strive for peace and unity among all professing Christians. To the degree that any fail to do this, "to his own Master he stands or falls." (Romans 14: 4)

There are, of course, things that hinder unity, whether it be in groups general, or in the church group. Disagreements over items of faith, and interpretation of the bible, exists in the Christian community. Yet, it remains the will of Christ that all believers strive to agree, to see "eye to eye," so that they may more fully work "shoulder to shoulder" and "stand side by side" in the Christian battle.

This unity comes through humility. Pride separates and divides and creates party factions and schisms that destroy the unity of the body.

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Philippians 2: 1-3 NKJV)

To be "like-minded" is to see "eye to eye." That is what we mostly do now as Christians, even with the differences. The basic gospel, thankfully, is still present even in sectarian Christian groups. Wrote Paul to the early Christians:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (I Corinthians 1: 10 KJV)

Friend, do you value unity? Or, perhaps you are one who loves disunity, who loves to separate friends, who practice "conquer and divide."

God is one. Jesus said - "I and my Father are one." (John 10: 30) The apostle John said that the "Father, Word, and Holy Spirit" are one, saying, "these three are one." (I John 5: 7) The unity that exists among Christians ought to reflect that divine unity. The same is true of such groups as the home, the social community, and of the nation at large.