Fixing Your Eyes

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV).

 

Our reading today uses a phrase in some translations that is important for us to practice. The writer says one of the keys to running a good race is to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” In this translation it is “”looking to Jesus” (v. 2). In the battle of Insurance advertising one of the newest offerings begins with a man riding through the mountains on his motorcycle. (Take a few seconds and watch the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDI5EAxbNA). The next scene shows him as they cut to real time, with the lines chalked all over the baseball field. I’ve attached it for you to watch in context. The last line is a classic. Carl, the daydreaming liner, asks his supervisor, “Do you think they’ll notice?” He answers his own question with, “Yeah, they’ll notice.”  

 

There is a direct correlation to how we run a race with where we focus our attention. The writer of Hebrews knew this is true also for the Christian life: we cannot let our focus wander away from the final goal. Instead we should focus on the destination: Jesus Christ. We must run the race marked out for us, but with our eyes fixed on the finish line.

 

The writer also adds more good news: we are not running on our own strength; we are running in the strength of Jesus Christ. Christ is the root of our faithful run, and he is also the one who brings it to completion. We can take comfort in knowing that he has already run the race ahead of us. And he continues to provide all the spiritual blessings we need during the ups and downs, the joys and challenges of this earthly life.

 

As pleasant as it may be to focus on other things in our life, we must keep our eyes “fixed” on the real goal. This is what will prevent the weariness so often found in the difficulties of the moments we face.