HOW TO BE AN ELITE SPIRITUAL ATHLETE
PART 2 “Focus on your Hero”
Hebrews 12:2-3
INTRODUCTION
We’re talking about how to be an elite spiritual athlete. We all know how important it is to stay in shape physically, and it’s no less important for us to pay attention to our spiritual condition.
And you’re never too old to start getting fit either physically or spiritually. My grandmother wanted to stay in shape so at the age of 60 she started walking five kilometres a day. She’s turns 97 this year and we still don’t know where she is!
Last week we said that to be an elite spiritual athlete you have to stay in the running. Quitters just don’t make it to the ranks of the elite. Jana Pittman is a classic example of this in this years Olympics. Take Jana and transpose her situation to the spiritual realm. What things can we do to sustain a vital walk with the Lord when we’re down but not out? We said, “Watch the winners,” “Stay in shape,” and “complete your race.” These are tactics that physical athletes use – and the same principles apply to success in the spiritual life.
This week at the Olympics we saw a young Aussie swimmer take out gold in her event (300m?). The first time a gold has been won in this women’s event since Dawn Fraser. Dawn Fraser was even interviewed and said she thinks Australia is at the beginning of a resurgence in success in women’s swimming.
And it’s heroes like Dawn Fraser that keep our athletes motivated. Focussing on their past achievements. Trying to break their records. If you want to be an elite physical athlete you will have your heroes and they will become a focal point of your journey to success.
And it’s exactly the same in the spiritual life. If we want to become an elite spiritual athlete, we must focus on our hero – Jesus Christ. Our passage from Hebrews 12 goes on to say just that. (OUTLINE)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).
There are a number of good reasons why we should fix our eyes on Jesus. Let’s take a look at some of them.
I. RELATIONAL BENEFITS
In Feb 2001 The Sydney Morning Herald reported the story of a man who married his TV set. At the time 42 year old Mitch Hallen was an Aussie living in Britain who had already been divorced twice. On Valentine’s Day in 2001 he married his Sony Widescreen with the ceremony actually presided over by a priest and witnessed by a dozen friends! Hallen took his vows of "high fidelity" and put matching gold rings on top of the TV.
Why marry his TV? Mitch Hallen claimed after two divorces and failed romances he had given up on women. "My TV gives me countless hours of pleasure without fussing, fighting or backchat"
It’s a sad story, but in one sense we can agree with Mitch. Relationships with people are more difficult that sitting in front of the TV.
So then how can fixing our eyes on Jesus help us in our relationships?
Here are just some situations where our hero, Jesus, helps us in our relationships.
When you say: "Nobody really cares about me." - Jesus says, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (I John 4:10)
When you say: "I feel all alone and nobody wants to be my friend." - Jesus says, "You are my friends, if you do what I command... I no longer call you servants... Instead, I have called you friends." (John 15:14,15)
When you say: “I want to resolve this conflict” - Jesus says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18)
Notice Jesus says peacemakers raise a harvest of righteousness. He did not say peacekeepers. This is proactive – we have to confront and make peace not hide issues under the carpet in order to keep the peace.
When you say: "I can’t forgive that person." - Jesus says, "Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Matthew 18:33) - forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:9-15).
And Jesus has this to say about our responsibility to community relationships ...
When you say, “I don’t know how to vote.” Jesus says, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus made it possible for us to have a restored relationship with our heavenly Father. If he is able to work this miracle in the spiritual realm, surely he is able to work far greater things in your human relationships.
II. INTELECTUAL BENEFITS
Another area that fixing our eyes on Jesus can help us is in our thinking.
Charlie Chaplin, Charles Dickens, Thomas Edison, Claude Monet and Mark Twain all had one thing in common – not one of them graduated from high school. Yet each achieved significant success in their life time.
How much more successful could we be if our mind, our intellect, our thinking were surrendered to Jesus. So what are the Intellectual Benefits (OUTLINE) of fixing our eyes on Jesus?
When you say: "It’s impossible!" - Jesus says, "What is impossible with men is possible with God. All things are possible for him who believes." (Luke 18:27; Mark 9:23)
When you say: "I can’t figure things out since I am confused." - Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Jesus also says, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not rely on your own insights. In all your ways acknowledge God and He will direct your paths."(Pv. 3:5,6)
When you say: "I’m not smart enough for what lies ahead of me." Jesus says, "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Me." (Col. 2:3)
When we fix the eyes of our mind on Jesus, we become more like him in our thinking. This is why we were created – to be like Christ in every way, even in our thinking. The Lord tells us in Philippians 2:5 that our, “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
Consider the enormous benefits of being like Christ in our thinking. To think with the wisdom of the mind that created every mind. Why would you not want this?
III. PHYSICAL BENFITS
There can also be physical benefits in fixing our eyes on Jesus. There’s no doubt the Christ centred life promotes good health.
Some however have taken this to the ridiculous extreme.
Like the US nutritional company called “Logia Foods of the Bible.” Logia is founded on the premise that the bible outlines God’s plan for good nutrition. On their web site Logia points out that "over 50 different foods are mentioned in the Scriptures – mostly all of them in a very positive way." And that if we want to follow the biblical approach to nutrition then we will "include as many of the Bible foods as possible into your daily diet."
To help us do this Logia markets a range of "biblical" nutritional products – like the “Bible Bar!” According to the Logia web site "The Bible Bar is a highly nutritious food bar based on a recipe from the Book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy 8:8, God describes the goodness of the Promised Land by listing seven foods which He also calls good. ’For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land. . . A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;’ " And guess what? These seven foods are all contained in the Bible Bar.
So what will they think of next? The Bible Footwear company? Which of course would sell sandals? The Bible Transport company, which specialises in the use of livestock as the only biblical form of land transportation? The Bible Barber who gives a great beard trim?
Maybe Logia Foods have taken things a bit too literally. But there’s no doubt there are physical benefits when we fix our eyes on Jesus. Here’s some of them.
When you say: "I’m too tired" - Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt. 11:28,29)
When you say: "I cannot manage with what I have." - Jesus says, "I will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory." (Phil. 4:19)
When you say: “I am sick and want to be well” - Jesus says, “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven (James 5:14-15).
The point is, we are to turn to Jesus to meet every single need we have.
And Christ is not unsympathetic to your pain and needs. He endured the cross for you. He has run the race and he has overcome. And now, if you believe, he lives in you to help you do the same.
IV. EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
Walter Hansenin wrote in “Christianity Today Magazine,” I am spellbound by the intensity of Jesus’ emotions: Not a twinge of pity, but heartbroken compassion; not a passing irritation, but terrifying anger; not a silent tear, but groans of anguish; not a weak smile, but ecstatic celebration. Jesus’ emotions are like a mountain river cascading with clear water. My emotions are more like a muddy foam or a feeble trickle.
God created us emotional beings. And in Jesus we see the full range of emotional experience. So it shouldn’t surprise us that fixing our eyes on Jesus can help us emotionally? Here are some of the Emotional Benefits (OUTLINE), of fixing our eyes on Jesus.
When you say: "I’m not able to carry this heavy burden." - Jesus says, "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." (Psa. 55:22)
When you say: "I am afraid and fear the worst." - Jesus says, "I have not given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7)
When you say: "I am worried and frustrated." - Jesus says, "Cast all your anxiety upon Me and I will care for you." (I Pet. 5:7)
When you say: "I don’t have any peace in my heart and mind." - Jesus says, "Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)
When you say, “Life is just so great that I am tempted to take all the credit” - Jesus says, “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:1-3).
When we talk about emotions some people think we’re getting all touchy feely and away from hard facts and reality and they switch off. But we shouldn’t be too quick to discount the emotional benefits of fixing our eyes on Jesus our hero. Our emotions are a powerful tool, and when they are under Jesus’ direction, they can achieve great things.
Take a look at our verse for today. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “...fix our eyes on Jesus ..... who for the joy set before him endured the cross.” Notice it was the emotion of joy that enabled Jesus to endure the agony of the cross! His love for us took him there – another emotion – and joy sustained him. Jesus was happy to die for you – because he knew his suffering was achieving something far greater for you.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus can help us endure any emotional crisis this life may throw at us.
V. SPIRITUAL BENEFITS
And finally, fixing our eyes on Jesus will help us maintain balance in our spiritual lives. There are spiritual benefits (OUTLINE) if our a life is focussed on Jesus?
You see, our spiritual life is like one of these huge concrete water towers we see around Australind and Eaton – their building a new one just off Eastwell road. The concrete tower is like the Bible – it stands alone, it’s solid and objective, and unbiased and the bible says what it says no matter what I think of it. It’s solid.
The fresh, clean water flowing into the concrete reservoir is like my daily personal experience of Christ. It flows continually, it’s always moving and it changes. It’s new and fresh.
Some people ignore the Bible and only want the experience. But without the solid Word of God to contain and channel that experience, the experience itself drains away and it’s lost.
Other Christians brag about their well-engineered reservoirs. They have an extensive knowledge of the Bible, but they are bone dry spiritually. Like a dry reservoir, they don’t bring any refreshment. But strong spiritual lives need both of these - both a strong knowledge of the Bible and an intimate daily relationship with Christ.
So there are many spiritual benefits of fixing our eyes on our hero Jesus. Here are some of them ....
When you say: "The pressures from the world, the flesh, and the devil are too strong for me." - Jesus says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17).
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30)
When you say, “It seems like God doesn’t hear me when I pray.” Jesus says, “The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).” And “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).
When you say: “I’m too far gone to be forgiven.” Jesus says, “If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and purify you from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Jesus is our reservoir of spiritual life and strength. He said himself .....
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me [or whoever fixes his eyes on me], as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:37-38)
If you are thirsty for a renewed spiritual life, fix your eyes on Jesus. Decide today, that you will turn to him and devote yourself to him. Seek his wisdom – take time out to search the Word for his guidance and refreshment in your spiritual life.
CONCLUSION
Do you remember that it was in looking to Jesus that you were first saved. You looked to him then and entrusted your whole life to him. That’s what you’re being called to do now, and every day.
Looking to Jesus describes a lifestyle attitude of faith and trust - not just a single act like when we first believed, but like a daily habit.
The saying WWJD holds good for us here. It’s a good question to ask. What would Jesus do?
And John 3:16 holds a promise for anyone who wants to take up the challenge to live like this – with their eyes fixed on Jesus. We often quote John 3:16 in relation to that first step of faith. But it’s application is far wider than that.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
When you fix your eyes on Jesus you are showing him that you continue to believe in him – and when you do he will prevent you from perishing – he will continue to show you the way to life in every situation. Will you fix your eyes on him?
