Focus Your Eyes

By David A. Sargent       Three boys were playing on the beach.  A man came along and said to them, "Would you like to have a race and the winner receive a prize?"     The boys agreed.  The man told them that his race was to be different.  “I will go a little farther down the beach,” he said, “and when I give you the signal, you will start to run.  The one whose footsteps form the straightest line in the sand will be the winner.”     The race commenced.     The first boy kept looking at his feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his companions to see what they were doing. The third boy just ran on with his eyes steadfastly fixed on the man at the finish line. Who won the race?     The boy who kept his eyes on the man and ran toward him made the straightest path in the sand.  He was the winner.     “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB).     The Christian life is likened to a race.  The winner of the race receives eternal life in heaven.  The Good News is that there isn’t just a single winner.  All of those who run the race faithfully to the end will receive the prize (2 Timothy 4:6-8).     The key to victory is to keep your eyes on Jesus.  The verb means to look away from all other things and focus on One: Jesus.     Look to Jesus, for He is the One who made our salvation possible.  He died on the cross for our sins so that we can be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24).  He “endured the cross, despising the shame” so that we can have an eternal home in heaven.     Look to Jesus as the Supreme Example (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).  Others may lead us astray, but Jesus won’t.  Seek to follow His steps, and He will lead you in the right direction.     Look to Jesus, for He is “the way, the truth, and the life” and no one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).     God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  This is how we enter the race.  Then, we must finish the race faithfully.  As we fix our eyes on Jesus and walk (or “run”) in the light of His Word, His atoning blood continues to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7-9).     Fix your eyes on Jesus and follow Him through your trusting obedience.  He will lead you to victory.     On your mark… Get set… Go!

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org