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Focus
For The Future
Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
January 1, 2010
As I began to meditate upon
thoughts for this month’s article, there were two things that
quickly came to mind was I sought for a topic. The first thing
that must be considered is the timing. The topic must be
relevant to the time of the year. One year has ended giving way
to a fresh start. We can’t change the past, all we can do is
endeavor not to make the mistakes of the past and seek wisdom
for the days ahead.
The topic must relate to
truth. Our world and especially our nation are marred by
falsehoods and deception. The chief office of our land is marked
by deception and lies. The leadership of this great nation knows
not the True and Living God! They “changed the truth of God
into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the
Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). Our
nation stands on the edge of total spiritual destruction and it
appears that no one seems to care.
Mindful of these two things,
my heart is challenged by the Holy Spirit. I have discovered
that keeping the right priorities in my life can be difficult at
times. To say that I am upset with the direction of our nation
and those that are leading it that way is an understatement!
Having that kind of temperament, I am prone to have a faulty
focus for the future. It was in this state of pessimism that the
Lord directed my “Focus For the Future!”
Focus on “A Person!”
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus was constantly being
attacked by this world’s system which included the secular as
well as the religious aspects of that system. Within the context
of Matthew 22, Jesus has silenced the Sadducees, only to
turn and be challenged by the Pharisees. While the lawyer’s
purpose was to tempt our Lord, the temptation proved to be a
stage to declare the truth. The truth is; you can either spend
all your time “fighting the system” or “focusing on the
Sovereign.” The “first and great commandment” (vs.38) is
not fighting the system! It is not only depressing, but totally
useless to continually contend with this world’s system. I must
not only admit my short coming, but confess my sin! The world is
not going to change! Both the Lord and the lawyer made reference
to the “commandment.” The word means, an injunction or an
authoritative prescription. Both the lawyer and the Lord were
interested in not just an injunction, but in the exceedingly
greatest injunction! The greatest of all authoritative
injunctions is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.”
I’m afraid that my depraved
nature finds it easier to “fight” than it does to “focus.” The
truth is, it’s difficult, if not impossible to separate
“looking” and “loving.” If I am to love the Lord supremely, He
must be the object of my focus. Not one of the objects, but
“the” object of my focus! Loving and looking to Him must consume
my heart, soul, and mind. If you get a
chance, study these three words. Basically, Jesus is to become
the focus for our feelings, our human spirit, and our
imagination or understanding.
The writer to the Hebrews
gave a prescription for warding off becoming “wearied and
faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:3). This is the
prescription, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). God in no way wants us to
stick our heads in the sand, but we must maintain an upward
look! Our deliverance is not in the White House or even among
the members of Congress; it is in looking to and loving the Lord
Jesus Christ, our soon coming King!
Focus on “A Purpose”
“But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
The only way to live a
meaningful and satisfying life is to endeavor to accomplish the
purpose I was created for. The word “seek” means to go
after, to desire or endeavor. In Matthew 6, God not only
gives the purpose, but the priority; “seek ye first.”
There are two basic thoughts within the Sovereign’s purpose for
all men; the rule of God and the righteousness of God.
If I am to please God, my number one desire and endeavor in life
must be “His Lordship” and “His Likeness.” I must
not only look to Him, I must listen to Him that I might attain a
likeness to Him. To focus on any other endeavor is to be worldly
minded even if that endeavor is to be in combat with the world!
I must never forget, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do
not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong
holds;)” (II Corinthians 10:3-4).
As we step across the
threshold of another year, may I walk in the truth! To
effectively live the Christian life I must not allow myself to
be consumed with fighting the system, but focusing on the
Sovereign and following the Saviour! That’s the focus for the
future!
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