Keeping Our Eyes On Jesus

Keeping Our Eyes On Jesus

Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. –Hebrews 12:1-2

Remember the mistake Harold Abrahams made in the movie Chariots of Fire? Leading in the race, he took his eyes off of the finish line and looked around to see where the other runners were—and it cost him the race. All great racers know that if you look around at others and evaluate or compare the race they are running, you will be distracted from your own race and it will slow you down.

It is the same for us who are running the race of faith. Don’t look around at others—they will distract you. But that is our natural tendency, isn’t it? His race is easier. She’s not applying herself, and yet she seems to be doing so well. He is so far ahead of me; I will never be able to catch up. Don’t get distracted by the race others are running. It will only hinder your progress.

Likewise, don’t look inward—it will discourage you. If you spend all your time and energy focused on your own resources or lack thereof, distracted by your own “issues” or your own limitations, you will become completely discouraged—perhaps to the point of simply quitting the race.

Some of the runners this writer to the Hebrews was addressing had begun to look back—at the old ways of Judaism, the old system of the law, and it only delayed their progress. Don’t look back—it will delay you. If you look back longingly at the way things used to be, you will not be prepared for the future God has for you. It can be hard for us to leave behind the comfortable and the familiar. Most of us don’t like change. But do you really want to keep wasting time where you are, or do you want to move forward with God? Determine to persevere, and don’t look back.

If we don’t look around or inside or behind us, where do we look? We look up—to Jesus. Putting our focus on Jesus puts everything and everyone else in proper perspective. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you won’t stumble or become distracted. You will find the energy and example you need to run this race of faith. He will become your sole aim and sole source.

Jesus, my eyes are on you as I run this race of faith. I see in your example what it looks like to persevere and stay faithful even in hardship. You are who I’m aiming for and my source of strength for getting there.

DIGGING DEEPER