The Real Issue: Loss Of Focus

WHAT IS THE REAL ISSUE? FOCUS?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT2) So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

*TEMPORAL: DO WE UNDERSTAND TEMPORAL? Pertaining to the life in this world, secular, worldly. Temporal relates to the temples of the skull. Lasting only for a time.

*MATERIALISM: A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values. In philosophy it is the doctrine that nothing exists except matter and movement.

*ETERNAL: The opposite of TEMPORAL is SPIRITUAL, ETERNAL. Eternal is lasting forever, without end, life after death, endures forever.

COULD WE BE WALKING IN SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS? IMMINENT: SOON?

We had a friend named Willie Cook. He was a super singer and a guitar player. I would drive him to different churches where he would sing. I would play background music. He would share his testimony. He was born in the early 1900’s. His doctor put the wrong drops in his eyes. The drops were some kind of acid and he was blind the rest of his life. He was a man full of joy. He often said: I MAY BE BLIND BUT I CAN SEE MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE CAN. One day traveling I was describing the beautiful colors all around. He said: I only know one color black or darkness. Blue, red, green and yellow are just words to me. Then he would add “I MAY BE BLIND BUT I CAN SEE MUCH MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE CAN SEE. I CAN SEE INTO ETERNITY.

Remember my dad, Wade M. Hughes was born in 1931. He is 90. He has pastored since 1955. Dad has short term memory loss. In a recent visit dad sang a song “20/20 VISION, SO BLIND WE CAN’T SEE.” On my 3 hour drive home I thought a lot about the title. I looked it up on Google. It was a hit in the late 1940s. “20/20 VISION SO BLIND WE CAN’T SEE.” The song has been recorded many times through the years. THE LESSON IS SO REAL. Ronnie Milsap a blind musician recorded it. Part of the words go: MY LIFE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME … NOW IT IS EASY TO SEE I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS WRONG… HOW COULD I BE THAT CLOSE AND YET SO FAR OFF TRACK… I HAVE 20/20 VISION BUT ONLY LOOKING BACK…

MAY GOD REVEAL HIMSELF TO US… MAY WE SEE THE REAL ISSUES OF LIFE?

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

WE LOOK FOR THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS. We believe the white horse is saddled as heaven prepares for the rescue of the church from this world. While heaven prepares, are we ready for this event? Do we say Jesus is coming soon with our mouths and our words, our attitudes and behavior tell a different story? WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD?

THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. WHO DEFINES WHAT YOUR MAIN THING REALLY IS? SEEMS WE LOVE TO LOSE THE GOD FOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

THERE FREELY GROWS A CRITICAL, JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE THAT USES GREED AND SELFISHNESS.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Where is the joy in the camp of God? Two spirits thrive in the church. There is a terrible argumentative spirit of debate and disagreeing. Do you love to bicker and fuss? If you win an argument and lose a friend what did you win?

Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Constant complaining brings stress and is negative. COMPLAINING IS BAD FOR YOUR BRAIN!

The real issue is to QUIT COMPLAINING. Do you want cheese with your whine? Are you always annoyed at something? Are you a habitual complainer? Do you focus on problems? Are you an instrument of dissatisfaction? Are you mean spirited? Are you meaner to your family than a stranger? BE GLAD TO HELP and ENCOURAGE OTHERS.

40 YEARS OF FREE FOOD? GOD GAVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS. A OMER A DAY FOR FIVE DAYS. ON THE SIXTH DAY GET 2 OMERS AND GATHER NONE ON THE SEVENTH DAY. WHY FAIL SUCH AN EASY TEST? THE REAL ISSUE IN NOT MANNA?

Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: