Do you have any difficulty focusing on things? Things like reading, listening, or projects. You get started in a good read and then your mind wanders. I find it happens to me; especially when I am trying to read the bible or praying. I will get started when, all of sudden, I remember I need to mow the lawn, take out the trash, or pick up leaves. Sometimes, I will hear a dog barking or any such noisy interruption and there you go, I am completely not focused on what I was reading. I have to tell you, it is quite frustrating.
I know there are people I could refer to who have a tremendous ability to focus. For example, Steve Stricker made ninety-eight per cent of his putts five feet and shorter over eleven starts. Steve Nash of the LA Lakers comes in as the best free throw shooter in NBA history with an incredible ninety percent completion rate. He credits his success to practicing something and sticking to a routine. I know as I watch successful athletes, the one thing they all have in common is focus; no matter the sport. They have a routine, they stick to it, and their eyes are always lasered in on the ball.
In the animal world, nature programs or documentaries often show animals on the hunt. Cheetahs, lions, praying mantis, and the like are all focused hunters. They appear focused and keep their eyes on their prey. On the flip side, the prey are able to focus on any danger while at the same time able to eat their food. Watching the big cats hunt, they lightly pick up a paw and place it ever so gently to the ground without any noise as they inch closer. They are watching for any slight indication their dinner is aware of their presence and make every effort to be a stealth as possible. Sometimes they are successful, other times not so much, but they always remained focused.
For any of you who know me, I once had a little Jack Russell terrier named Ike. That dog was a hoot. Unlike most JR's, Ike would play like crazy, but at the same time, he was able to stop if commanded to do so. He was a little on the feisty side. By that I mean, Ike had probably bitten most of my friends including me. They were not hard bites, but hurt just the same. I digress. My point for bringing up Ike was his ability to focus. I would take his ball in my hand and immediately Ike's focus became laser like. I would hold it up and his eyes never altered. No matter what the distraction, he would not shift focus. He would sit, wait with his tongue hanging out, slightly shaking out of nervous anticipation pleading for me to hurl the ball. When it left my hand, nothing would impede him as he ran to retrieve the ball. It was a rinse and repeat game. He would go as long as I would throw it. I miss that little guy. He was so much fun.
Well, as usual, now I have to answer the question, "What is this about? Why bring up ability to focus?" I like to think about clarity when it comes to my spiritual walk. When Mally and I went to the canyons last year, we stayed in a place named Kodachrome State Park outside of Bryce Canyon. Kodachrome belonged to the "international dark sky" parks of the country. The night views were amazing there. We decided to purchase some binoculars to view the stars. You would think that would be incredible; however, the problem was I could not hold the binoculars steady enough to see anything with clarity. It was pretty frustrating to say the least because the stars literally lit up the sky, but I could not focus on them. I actually had better success with my naked eye yet, I still had to focus to see clearly.
When I think about examples of focus in the bible, I think of Noah. He was given an assignment from God to build an ark despite the fact there had never been rain. Even at the expense of his reputation, Noah remained obedient to the Lord and maintained incredible focus on completing the ark. He remained focused right up to God's closing the doors. As the rain poured, Noah remained faithful and focused.
Then there was Abraham who had been given the most difficult task of sacrificing his son Isaac on an altar. Abraham could have said no, but he remained faithful. Along with Isaac, Abraham packed the mules with the required items to sacrifice Isaac. Despite the boy's questions about where the sacrifice was located, Abraham remained focused on carrying out God's assignment. Right up to the point of Abraham's plunging the knife into Isaac, he remained focused on obedience and confident God would make everything alright in the end.
Of course, I have to point us toward the ultimate example of focus. Yes, it was Jesus Christ. You might ask, "how so?" What was the point of Jesus' focus? Jesus was focused on the salvation of man. The plan for Jesus was established before the world was created.
"He (God) mad the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Before proceeding, please do not overlook the goal of Jesus becoming sin for us. He did this in order that "we might become the righteousness of God in Him". The goal was for anyone who would believe in Jesus to have eternal life in heaven with him. So, with the goal established, His focus had to overcome many obstacles. These obstacles came from various sources, but the main source was Satan. Looking at Jesus' life, we find King Herod was determined to kill him when Jesus was just a child.
"...when King Herod heard this (the birth of Jesus) he was deeply disturbed …assembled all the chief priests and scribes..." and "then Herod gave orders to massacre all the male children who were two years old or under...."Matthew 2:1-17
We might be tempted to think this is were the opposition began. In actuality, it started in Genesis with the fall of man when Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit. I will let you do some homework and read Genesis chapter 3 for yourself. In these verses, Satan made his initial attempt at separating man from his Creator, God. Maybe at a later date we will take a look at how many different ways Satan attempted to destroy the success of salvation.
At this point in time, Jesus was already on mission despite his having not yet been born; what is known as the "incarnation". Through Jesus thirty years on this earth, he had to remain focused on the goal; the redemption of mankind. Almost everywhere he turned, someone was against him. Be it the religious leaders of the temple (the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Scribes) or demons, false witnesses, or the ordinary sceptic. Jesus had to remain focused. Put yourself in His sandals. Every time you proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand or the gospel of salvation, someone is there to stand in your way. They will lie about you, attempt to run you out of town, attempt to harm you by laying out plots to kill you, and numerous other tactics, you will have to stay focused.
I could not do it as witnessed by my inability to remained focused on reading a book. It goes much further than the majority of Jesus' walk. In the end, when Jesus said the time had come for him to go to the cross, all stops had been pulled by the Jewish leaders. He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot with the infamous "Judas Kiss". He was denied by Peter, one of his closest disciples. He was dragged before Pontious Pilate, then to Herod, back to Pilate and to the cross. Between these appearances, Jesus was mocked, beaten (scourged), spit on, and crowned with thorns. He was forced to carry his cross to Golgatha (Skull Hill) with the assistance of Simon, the Cerene. You can source this in the Gospel of Luke, chapters 22 through 24.
Focus! What was Jesus' motivation? He loved(s) us so much that he was willing to go to the cross for our salvation. It was also to carry out the will of the Father.
"Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me - nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:42
This was the part of Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Doesn't this make you happy? I mean, doesn't this make you want to jump up and down doing the "River Dance"? If Jesus only had my inability to focus, we would have no hope. I think, no I know, your focus would not be any more successful. Jesus, because of his perfect focus on the mission of salvation and the will of the Father has provided us the reason we can stand before God; righteous in His eyes.
"Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his (Jesus) faithfulness, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
I can only stand in awe of Jesus as he exemplifies perfection, clarity, and focus. I want to be focused in my bible study, in my prayer life, and in my Christian walk. How about you?
Wear Jesus Well,
Blessings,
Steve
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