When I worked at a Christian camp and retreat center up in Michigan for a couple of years, we had one of those old reel to reel projectors that we would use to show Christian films to campers. You had to take the end of the film from one reel, feed it through the projector and then attach it to the second reel. Once it was hooked up, the next step was to focus the projector, so that the information and film could be viewed by the audience. Trying to watch a film that is out of focus isn’t too fun, because you can’t read any of the information on the screen nor can you tell what is going on very well. However, once you correctly focus the projector, everything becomes clear and you can read text on the screen and see what is going on in the film.
In Hebrews 12:1-2, the writer instructs us; “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.” Notice the instruction here:
1. Lay aside EVERY encumbrance and sin – Anything that is preventing you from living your life the way God’s Word instructs us to live – GET RID OF IT!
2. Run with ENDURANCE – Don’t give up just because it get’s difficult, or you don’t seem to understand some things – KEEP RUNNING THE RACE!
and 3 (The Most Important) – FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS! FOCUS ON HIM! Every day of your life, keep looking to Jesus Christ for guidance, for instruction, for help.
A lot of Christians live their lives like an out of focus film. They don’t really have a clue what’s going on, because they are not focused on Jesus Christ. If we REALLY DESIRE to be successful in this Christian life, we ABSOLUTELY MUST FOCUS ALL OF OUR ATTENTION ON HIM!
The Bible instructs us over and over to seek after God with ALL of our heart, mind, and soul. To follow Him! If we are going to follow Him, we HAVE to FOCUS on Him. Like the writer in Hebrews tells us, “get rid of the stuff in your life that is keeping you from FOCUSING on Jesus Christ!”
What about your life? Is it focused on Jesus?