Tunnel Vision

Tunnel Vision

Hebrews 3:1-14

Intro: How many basketball fans do we have here this morning? Do any of you know who the best free throw shooter in the world is? According to sports illustrated, the guys name is Tom Amberly and he set the record back in 1994.

Tom was a foot doctor. In 1994 this foot doctor set the world record by making 2,750 free throws in a row. Can you imagine that 2,750 free throws in a row. Guess how old he was; 71 according to the article. He was in a gym in California with all kinds of things going on around him. The article states that there was a volleyball team running around the gym while he was doing this. The article asks a question. “How did Tom Amberly set the world free throw record? It then answers that question. Focus, Focus, Focus. Tom says that I just stay in my routine of three bounces and focus. Tom didn’t miss number 2751 by the way; they turned out the lights and closed the gym on him.

. Tom had tunnel vision. A singular focus.

. Our scripture this morning speaks about tunnel vision and focus.

. In the first two chapters of Hebrews we have seen the divinity of Jesus laid out for the readers and his superiority over all created beings.

. In the first two chapters of Hebrews the writer laid out the proof that Jesus was and is God.

. He is one third of the triune God seen as the one we call God.

. In chapter 1 verse 9 we see where God is talking to Jesus and He says, “…Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you…”

. God is calling Jesus God, placing Him at equal status with Him.

. Don’t ask me to explain all there is to know about the trinity and how one can be three and still be The One. I don’t have all those answers.

. All I do know is in these first two chapters, the writer tells us who Jesus really is.

. Now in chapter three, the writer shifts gears and tells us that now that you know who Jesus was and is, This is who you should be focusing on. You should have tunnel vision. Forget all the other ways you have been looking at God and religion and look to Jesus.

. Focus of Jesus. Have tunnel vision where all you see is Jesus.

. Let’s read our scripture Hebrews 3:1-14

. 1And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.

2For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.

3But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself.4For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

5Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.

6But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

7That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice,8don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled,

when they tested me in the wilderness.

9There your ancestors tested and tried my patience,

even though they saw my miracles for forty years.

10So I was angry with them, and I said,

‘Their hearts always turn away from me.

They refuse to do what I tell them.’

11So in my anger I took an oath:

‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ”

12Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.

13You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.

14For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

. When we have Tunnel Vision or focus on Jesus we see Him for who He really is.

. The writer says that if we focus on Jesus we will see him as Our Example, Our Executor and Our Eternity.

.Our Example

. Look at verse 1 through part of three again.

. 1And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.