Don’t Lose Your Focus Series

Sermon Text: Heb 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

Intro: Life is full of distractions. When we lose our focus, we can be distracted, and disaster can happen. In the movie “Apollo 13” the Apollo space craft has suffered a catastrophic explosion. The two members of the crew begin to blame each other for what has happened. The Commander of the spacecraft Jim Lovell reminds the other two astronauts Fred Haise and Ken Mattingly that bickering with each other will not solve the problem. Lovell quickly brings their attention back to the problem of surviving this catastrophic event and returning to the safety of earth.

In the very same way life is like this situation. We are on a journey not a journey in space but a journey in life. That journey of life is full of distractions and those distractions can cause us to take our eyes off what is important and get sidetracked. Those orchestrated distractions are design by Satan to lose sight of what is important and will lead us to disaster in our lives and those around us.

Steven Covey author of the book “Seven Habits of Highly Successful Habits” said Begin with the End in Mind-Start with a clear destination in mind. Covey says we can use our imagination to develop a vision of what we want to become and use our conscience to decide what values will guide us.

Most of us find it rather easy to busy ourselves. We work hard to achieve victories — promotions, higher income, more recognition. But we don't often stop to evaluate the meaning behind this busyness, behind these victories — we don't ask ourselves if these things that we focus on so intently are what really matter to us. This habit suggests that, in everything we do, we should begin with the end in mind. Start with a clear destination. That way, we can make sure the steps we're taking are in the right direction.

For me as a Christian my “Main Thing’ is to spend an eternity with Jesus. Each night when I lay my head on my pillow, I ask God to take me to be with Him if and when it is my time to go. I strive each day to not allow the distractions of the world to cause me to get sidetracked. Paul makes this statement in Rom 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV

It is Satin who is the distractor but when we allow ourselves to be distracted from God and His will for our lives, we are the losers. Scripture tells us that He is the father of lies and he will use anything to rob us from the joy that can be found in living for Christ. The Bible describes Satan in this way-

The god of this world who blinds men’s minds (2 Corinthians 4:4)

The deceiver of the world (2 Corinthians 11:3)

The tempter (Matthew 4:3)

The evil one (Matthew 6:13)

The father of lies (John 8:44)

1st Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus -Heb 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

When I was in high school, I played on our school baseball team. As a player on the team, I had to focus on the ball. When batting my eye was on the ball, when running the base, I had to keep my focus on the bases and not losing sight of where the ball was in play. When playing as an outfielder and was called to catch the ball my focus was on the ball.

As a Christian I must always keep my spiritual eyes on Jesus. The world wants us to put worldly living as a priority. That often may seem to be the right way to travel through this world but that is not the case. Let me ask you a question: “Who or what are you focusing on?” In God’s Word Saul, king of Israel focused on being popular with the people and not being obedient to God and He lost his throne. In 1 Sam 15:22, Samuel the last Judge of Israel told King Saul that “obedience is better than sacrifice or forgiveness. That obedience could be translated as “focus.”