Life's Most Rewarding Fixation

LIFE’S MOST REWARDING FIXATION

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies." Psalm 112:7-8 KJV.

I. EVERY MAN’S HEART IS FIXED ON SOMETHING.

"Choose you this day whom you will serve…" Joshua 24:15.

"Set your mind (heart) on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2.

II. A MAN MAY FIX HIS HEART UPON THAT WHICH WILL BE HIS UNDOING. Consider:

Lot fixed his heart on the fertile plains of sinful Sodom.

“Then Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me: if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.’

”And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.

“So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.” Genesis13:8-11 (NASB)

Ephraim fixed his heart on the pagan idols of Canaan.

“Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.“ Hosea 4:17 (NASB)

The prodigal Son fixed his heart upon sinful indulgence.

"And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.” Luke 15:13 (NASB)

The rich farmer fixed his heart upon a life of ease.

“’And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry." Luke 12:19 (NASB)

The Pharisee fixed his heart upon magnifying himself.

“"The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, ’God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. ’I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.” Luke 18:11-12 (NASB)

Judas fixed his heart upon money even if it required treason to obtain it.

“Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, ‘What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?’ And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.” Matthew 26:14-16 (NASB)

Pilate fixed his heart upon being popular with the crowd even if he had to deny his own conscience to obtain it.

“And wishing to satisfy the multitude, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” Mark 15:15 (NASB)

Ananias and Sapphira fixed their hearts on lies and deception in an effort to impress the early church with their piety.

“But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.’ And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it. And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’

Then Peter said to her, ‘Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out as well."

And she fell immediately at his feet, and breathed her last; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.” Acts 5:1-11 (NASB)