6-12-2021

 Good Morning All!

        Hebrews 12:2; “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Now he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.”

    A few years ago, we attended the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas.  We went to a “Six Flags” amusement park.  There were some impressive rides there.  One of them was a swing seat that they strapped you in and then pulled down on four bungee cords and then let go.  You shot straight up and at the top you were 30-35 feet in the air with nothing around you.  One girl did that.  Many wanted to try the roller coaster.  It had some steep drops and sharp turns.  The first bunch got on and I waited with the next bunch.  This group was a little nervous about the ride.  So, I shared with them my secret for riding a roller coaster.  I told them, “Don’t sit in the front car but about three or four back from the front.  Then don”t look around, just stare at the car in front of you.  You won’t go anywhere that the car ahead of you goes and it won’t move compared to you.”  Part of the reason it is hard to ride a roller coaster is because our vision is shaken and thrown about and things become a blur and affect our sense of balance and stability, by focusing on the car ahead, you reduce this effect.

    This is the same effect that the devil and world want to have on you.  They want you looking all around and at the dizzying colors, shapes, blurring images, hearing a cacophony of strange and unintelligible sounds.  This will confuse you, make you sick, make you uncomfortable and cause you to doubt.  So, Scriptures offers us this wonder guidance, “We must focus on Jesus!”

    Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus because he has endured death and overcame it so that you would have life.  It is in your possession.  It is yours to keep and to remind you of the greatness that is yours.  When Christ returns and the fullness of time is complete, we will have eternity to spend with Jesus in the perfected creation.  That is our hope; that is our future.  But the devil does not want you to focus on the eternal bliss that awaits us.  He will do everything he can to distract, confuse, blur and. ultimately, make you lose sight of Jesus.  Then he can torment you in many a varied fashion.

    So, we try and stay focused.  We try to keep our eyes fixed straight ahead and look to Him in all situations and all circumstances.  Sometimes the devil wins and draws our attention away, but Jesus is always calling us back to focus on Him and Him alone.  Jesus is our hope and our defender.  He is the source, the very reason for our faith and by clinging to Him and Him alone, we can enjoy the comfort of His great promise.  Focus on Jesus and do not suffer from the distractions the devil throws at you.  Remain firm in Jesus’ loving arms.

Father of all mercies, keep me ever focused on Jesus.  Keep me secure in the certain knowledge of Your grace and mercy.  Send Your spirit of hope and comfort to those who are being tormented by the devil and keep them in Your loving embrace.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret