FIXED AND FOCUSED

By Reverend Shirley Jackson

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2

How often have you declared Jesus to be the author and finisher of your faith?   Until recently I was quick to make this declaration without giving serious thought to what I was actually proclaiming.   Then I was led to look at the text closer to get a clearer understanding of what it means to profess Jesus as the “author and finisher of my faith.”  

The reference to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith is made in the 12^th chapter of Hebrews immediately after the writer gives us a rundown of all the biblical characters that made it to the Hall of Fame of Faith.  These are the men and women we know as our “great cloud of witnesses” who provide an example for us and cheer us on in this day as we run this race called life.  And so, as I began to think about faith as it relates to the race of life, I was immediately taken back to my college days.  

You wouldn’t know it to look at me now, but I used to be a runner.  When I was in college, I was on the track team.  My event was the mile relay race.  Normally I had no problem pacing myself until the last leg of the race when I would sprint pass my opponents to win the race.   But on one particular Saturday, as I cruised around the bend approaching the finish line, I could hear the guys from the football team cheering me on from the stands.   For a quick moment I took my eyes and my mind off the race and off the finish line and my thoughts and actions turned to impressing those guys on the sidelines.   Before I knew it, that old monkey jumped on my back and one of my opponents sprinted right pass me to finish in first place.  

Of course I learned a lesson that day.  The lesson was that if I wanted to win future races, I had to keep my mind fixed and focused on the race and not be distracted by the crowd, even though they were cheering me on.  So it is in this race called life.  This race is tough and sometimes we become weary and discouraged, but at those times we only need to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.   It is Jesus who begins the work of faith in us and it is Jesus who perfects the work He has begun in us.  Jesus is the originator, creator and object of our faith.

When we are struggling, we only need to look to Jesus to know how to endure the challenges of this world.  He ran the course that was set before Him by the Father.   He never once forgot his purpose.   He never got off course.   He never got in the wrong lane.  He never gave up.  He never gave in to those who questioned Him, ridiculed Him, tried to trick Him and even killed Him.  We should look to Jesus as the perfect example because He remained focused on His earthly mission in spite of the temptations, disappointments, discouragement, weariness, betrayal, misunderstanding, pain, crucifixion, shame and even death. When we fix our gaze on Jesus we see the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the One who was, is and is to come.  And we only need to follow in His footsteps to also be victorious, no matter what life throws our way. 

So the next time trouble comes your way and you find your faith wavering, look to Jesus and remember how He continued to teach, preach and minister knowing His crucifixion was soon to come.  When you become distracted by the things of this world, fix your focus on Jesus and remember how He denied His own human desires and stood up for righteousness when satan tempted Him in the wilderness.  When you are disappointed because of unanswered prayers, fix your focus on Jesus and remember His prayer to His Father, “Not my will, but thy will be done.”  When you are confused, frustrated and about give up, fix your focus on Jesus and remember how He handled his accusers as they led him to the cross, spit on him, stabbed and beat him.   

What has your attention?  Is your life centered on yourself and the blessings you desire?  Are you so focused on your own pain that you cannot help anyone else?  The Bible reminds us that no matter what comes our way we are to “look unto Jesus” the author and finisher of our faith.  Allow him to complete the work He has begun in you.  Have faith in Him and trust His plan for your life.  Stay fixed and focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and you too can endure until the end.   He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6)