To build a
stronghold of faith in God, we must keep our eyes on Him.
Life is a race! There are rules for every race. No
matter how well you run the race, if you do not run according to the rules, you
will not be crowned. In this race, we must run according to the rules. Though
we are all in the race, it's also very personal. No one will be judged, based
on the performance of another.
As you run, you must stay focused. Refuse
to be Deceived, Discouraged or Distracted. These three D's will come to you
from all sides, from within and outside, but you must keep faith alive and
remain strong.
Psalm 34: 5 says, “They looked unto him
and were lightened and their faces were not ashamed”.
We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider
him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds” Hebrews
12:1-3-KJV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute
faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so
easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active
persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that
will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and
Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who
brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set
before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the
completion of His work]. Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from
sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison
with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”. Heb. 12:1-3- AMP
“Do you see what this means—all
these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means
we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra
spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re
in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was
headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything
along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of
honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go
over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed
through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” Heb. 12:1-3-MSG
Looking at these verses, we can infer the
following;
1. We are encompassed with a great cloud of
witnesses.
2. There are weights and sins we need to lay
aside.
3. We must run the race with patience
4. We must look unto Jesus
If you want to keep faith and finish well and
strong, keep your eyes on Jesus.
Let's look closely at these key points
1. Who are these witnesses? In context, these
witnesses are the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. These witnesses are not just
spectators; they have passed through the paths and have proofs. They proved
this by their lives and absolute faith in God. They followed even in the face
of death, distress, distractions. There is always an example for us to
follow, clear cut examples in scriptures and around us today. There’s nothing
you are going through, no trial, temptation, or whatever you are experiencing
that is new. So we are inexcusable.
2. Lay aside the weights and sins that beset.
What are weights? Things that slow you down, hinder
you and sometimes may even disqualify you, they are extra fat, burdens,
impediments. Sin is anything contrary to God's law, the word of God. It will
obstruct and hinder you. To keep on with the race, you have to let go of these.
Put them off, let go of them.
Weights come in different forms: The cares of this
world, the basic things of life can become weights if we don’t stay focused on
the kingdom and things that count for eternity. Food, drink, crave for
money, influence and affluence, the company you keep, social media, malice,
jealous, envy, unforgiveness, works of the flesh..., all of these and more, can
slow you down, hinder you and be impediments on the race. Rom. 13:11-14,
Col.1:1-10.
3. Run the race with patience. Patience means
steadfastness, constancy, consistency. Patience also means, you have something
in view that hasn't yet come, still, you are holding on; Patience is
the characteristics of a man who is not moved from his deliberate purpose and
loyalty to faith even in the face of trials and great sufferings. You stick
to your loyalty to Jesus and to the word in spite of your
circumstance. Your spiritual strength will deflate if you are not patient
and you can’t be patient if you do not have a focus. What gives you staying
power is what your heart is focused on. Patience is required for you to finish
the race. It is through faith and patience the promises are obtained. Heb.
6:12, 10:36, Rev. 3:10-11.
4. Look unto Jesus. If your faith will not fail,
set your eyes on Him. We have enough reasons to look to Him.
- He is the author and finisher of our faith.
- He completes what he starts. Phil 1:6, Ps. 138:8.
- In Him we live, and move and have our being. Acts
17:28.
- Jesus is our perfect example. 1st Peter 2:
21
You only lose focus when your gaze shifts from
Jesus. At the word of the Lord, Peter walked on water, but the minute his
attention shifted, he began to sink. Matthew 14: 28-31.
Jesus Himself had a focus. His eyes were fixed on
the mission before Him. His eyes were set on the finishing line...”who for
the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame...” Jesus
paid the price. What we need to endure is nothing compared to the glory we will
enjoy. There's no suffering that lasts forever. 2 Cor.4:16-18, 1 Cor.
9:24-27.
We keep our eyes on Him by giving heed to His
instructions; you must give attention to the things He is saying. The true
proof of our followership is that we give heed to His instructions and we
fellowship with Him in prayers.
Do what he says. There are many things you will
escape in life if you just do the word of God. When you are focused on Jesus,
you are oblivious of the prevailing situations around you. They will not move
you. Matt. 7:24 -26.
Beloved, look up, keep your eyes on Jesus. Do the
word.
