Keeping Your Eyes on Things That Matter

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

I vividly remember once attending a church meeting where I became concerned about the level of apathy in the people around me. Prior to turning to prayer, a man had been speaking about how God had saved him and miraculously turned his life life around. God had been glorified; His goodness and His power were on display. There was much to be thankful for as the people turned to prayer, but instead, the sense of life and power that had been present, dissipated.  Where was the shout of thanksgiving to the God who demonstrated His power to break the bondage to sin and bring physical and mental healing?  As the hymn says, ‘Our God is an awesome God’. So why the lethargy? Why the lack of spiritual zeal? Why lack of desire for spiritual things?

What is most real and living to us depends very much on where we are living. Although, on the outside we are resident in this world, our spirits inhabit a difference realm. ​
​

"For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Hebrews 13:14)

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
​(Colossians 3:2)

It takes discipline to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. The Devil would have your mind kept on ‘things of the earth’ so that the appetite for ‘things above’ diminishes. He is very aware of the importance of what occupies our time and attention, what we “fix our eyes on”.

Social media and technology are good examples. The unfortunate truth is that social media has become a huge distraction for many Christians from their relationship with Jesus. They spend time on social media more than on the Word of God. To ‘binge on Netflix’ has become a common term used in society (and even among Christians). Then we have  Amazon Prime, iplayer, Apple TV. Entertainment is being pushed at us from every angle and, if we overindulge, it saps the desire for spiritual food out of you.  

According to J Warner Wallace, social media is “Stealing our passion and stealing our priorities”. It robs you of the hunger to spend time in the Word.  Your spiritual appetite diminishes in the same way your natural hunger for good food dissipates when you feast on junk food.

J Wallace Warner also gives good advice when he says: "Ultimately, as Christians, we need to be mindful of how we use social media and how it impacts our relationship with Jesus. By being intentional about the content we consume and share, and by using social media as a tool for sharing our faith with others, we can navigate this new digital landscape in a way that honors God and strengthens our relationship with Him.”

​And finally…
​

“God grant that if we must have two eyes, that they may be both clear ones; one the eye of faith wholly fixed on Christ, the other the eye of obedience equally and wholly fixed on the same objective.”

C H Spurgeon

Pauline Anderson