Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

     There are two things that I really hate when driving.  The first is foggy and / or streaked windows.  Since the traffic situation is always changing, I like to have a clear view of everything around me.  Poor visibility increases my stress level.

     The other thing I hate while driving is a lot of road signs and billboards.  I get really distracted from what I’m doing because I have a hard time looking away from the flashy, colorful advertisements.  I especially have a hard time with the ones that have (purposefully) misspelled words in them.  I feel the need to correct the spelling . . . and then I get too close to the car in front of me or beside me! I guess I might be ready for a new car with one of those collision-avoidance systems.

     I’ve noticed that Satan can sometimes work this way in our spiritual lives.  He knows that if he can cloud my judgment or distract me from “the road” ahead, I run a high risk of crashing.  This, I believe, is the main reason for all of the Scriptures which remind us to keep our focus on God and Jesus.  The Hebrew writer says it this way:  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter [finisher / completer] of our faith” (12:3).

            Jesus had much to say about keeping one’s attention fixed on our heavenly goal.  “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom . . .”  “If you would follow after me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow me.”  “Abide in me and I will abide in you . . . apart from me you can do nothing.”  Yet, so many get distracted and take their eyes off of Him: Peter while walking on water (he began to sink when he got distracted by the storm and the waves), Judas when Jesus was being anointed (he was distracted with the waste of money and lost sight of the woman’s loving devotion to Him), Thomas and the others who rejected the reports of the resurrection (they were too distracted by their fears and grief to acknowledge that Jesus really was alive).

            It is imperative that we listen to and carry out the instruction in this Hebrews passage.  Satan has so many weapons to distract us from returning to God: job stresses, family issues, peer pressure, health issues, future plans, close relationships, car troubles, the bank balance, failed political promises, world injustices, global turmoil, and on and on.  All he has to do to derail our lives and send us off in the wrong direction is to slip a simple “care” or “concern” or “burden” into our thinking and before we know it, we’re sinking like Peter did.  Fortunately, Peter had grown in his relationship with Jesus to know who to cry out to for help.  And Jesus was right there to rescue him.

     Keep your “eyes” on Jesus and build your faith in Him so that Satan’s “storms” are less and less distracting.  In order to make it to the final destination (God), it is vital to persevere in your faith and continue to call on Him for guidance and strength. And the good ending to that story is that He is always near to rescue, encourage, and empower you to stay on the right track.

Doug