FOCUSED ABOVE

 

All Bible quotations are taken from the New King James Version

          As human beings, we are very fixated on the things of this world, the things that can be touched, seen, heard, smelt and tasted. The world is very real to us. I would even say the world is too real to us, even as Christians. We can see the things in nature and yes, God created everything for His pleasure and to enrich our lives, yet sometimes we are too attached to the world. We do not even entertain God in our thoughts. We often put our possessions first so that we do not have room for Jesus, just as the rich young ruler did. The ruler’s possessions caused him to turn and walk away from Jesus. (See Matthew 19:16-23). Would you do the same?

          We are told many times in Scripture to keep our focus on the Lord Jesus and the eternal things which will never fade away. There will be a day when this world and all that is in it, will pass away. Paul, the apostle said, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2). As a Christian, we should put our focus on things above. The Lord’s words should be occupying our minds more than worries, problems and pressures that this life brings:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:31-34).

          If we know that the Lord is taking care of us, and every detail of our lives, why should we be concerned about these things? Scripture says, “The Lord will perfect (complete) that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 138:8).

          We can get overly caught up in our occupations, service or ministry for the Lord that diverts our attention from the Lord Himself. The disciples of Jesus experienced this. On one occasion, Jesus sent seventy disciples out to preach that the kingdom of God had come and to heal the sick. “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He (Jesus) said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven…Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather, rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17-18, 20). Here, Jesus’ disciples had returned from a mission Jesus had sent them on. However, the disciples lost their focus. They were focusing on and rejoicing in the results of their efforts, instead of rejoicing that their names were written in heaven.

          As well as having focus on possessions and occupations instead of the Lord, there is another factor that can divert our attention in a huge way. That is the area of suffering. Suffering is very real and very painful and all of us have suffered in one way or another. When we are deep in suffering – physical, emotional, or any kind – we become focused on our pain and that takes our communication and attention from the Lord. I remember the extreme pain I went through when my right hip had deteriorated. It was extremely hard to focus on anything but the pain. I will admit that my eyes were not on the Lord as much as they should have been. The pain was all consuming. The apostle Paul went through many trials and sufferings, including having a physical infirmity. Yet through it all, Paul was able to stay focused on Jesus (that is discipline) and in the midst of his sufferings, he was able to make the most incredible statements. Here is a partial list of the sufferings of Paul:

“Are they ministers of Christ? – I speak as a fool – I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;…” (2 Corinthians 11:23-24).

         

Paul also had a thorn in the flesh which he asked the Lord to remove three times. The Lord had an answer for him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a). What the Lord is doing is to re-focus Paul’s attention from his physical limitation and pain, and to put Paul’s gaze back onto Him. I can’t help being amazed at Paul’s response. “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b). I want to have the same response to the Lord as Paul did. Paul also made this incredible statement: “For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, is working a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  

          There are many times when we need our focus re-directed to the Lord, when He has to become more real to us than the things of this world. Paul encourages us not to look at the temporary things of this world, but to gaze on that which is eternal and said, “We do not look at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  (2 Corinthians 4:18).

          I want my gaze to be fixed on the Lord to the point that the things of this world will grow strangely dim, and the things of eternity will become more real to me. I pray that if you believe in Jesus, this would be your heart’s desire as well.

 

          Would you like to know Jesus as your Saviour and Lord? If you do, pray this prayer: “Jesus, I want to invite You into my life to be my Saviour and Lord. Please cleanse me by Your precious blood. I surrender my life to You now. I also want my gaze to be more on You than on the things of this world.”

If you have a Bible, start reading in the Gospel of John, the fourth book of the New Testament which explains who Jesus is (the Word), how much He loves you, and what He has done for you in His life and death and resurrection.