“…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,..” (Hebrews 12:2)
A picture taken out of focus is not worth anything! If a runner in the race has lost his/her focus and goal, the expected success may not be achieved. A Christian who lives without a purpose and the ultimate goal of life may fall and fail to reach the destiny designed by the saviour.
1. What is Focus? It is giving full attention, concentration, motivation, emphasis, effort and to have the single-mindedness. Many have lost or left the focus in essential matters and life has become chaotic and troublesome. It is crucial that each person find the focus in his/her life for it to be meaningful and progressively moving towards worthy goals and ultimately the eternal destiny.
2. Why do people lose the Focus? There may be many reasons why a lot of people are just existing, instead of living with a real focus and motivation. Let me mention the following for you to think:
a) Distractions. (Galatians 5:5; 1:6-9). When we take our eyes off the target due to the disruptions and interferences we naturally become out of focus. The Apostle Paul has challenged the believers in Galatia and wrote to them about the need of a restoration in their focus on the true message of the Gospel of Christ. The Christians in the region were influenced by the Jewish legalists that they needed to observe the Law of Moses to become truly children of God. Paul had to correct them by teaching them from the Scriptures to be back in focus once again. Satan’s scheme in Eden towards Adam and Eve was to distract and divert them from God’s Word and God’s plan for mankind.(Genesis Ch.3;2 Cori 11:2,3). Let us be aware of his devices and get rid of all distractions (Acts 20:30).
b) Distress (Philippians 4:14; 2 Cori.11:23-33). The adverse experiences of life could threaten our focus in Christian life and service. Again the experiences of Paul as a follower and servant of Jesus Christ is an example for all to know as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and New Testament Letters. The multiplicity of sufferings, pain, agony and miseries in his life and ministry could have taken him out of his focus and goal. When your whole being is affected (body, soul and spirit /mind / emotions) and you are stretched beyond measure, it affects your focus. But listen to the encouraging words written by the apostle, “ But none of these things move me;.. so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,..” (Acts 20:24).Read Phili. 3:12-16.
c) Deficiency. (Matt.13:5-6;20,21;John 12:42) A man who is not rooted and grounded in the word of God and lacks the knowledge and the depth in the faith could easily lose the focus in Christ and drift away. A faithful believer is a focused believer with his/her eyes fixed on Christ. Many are suffering with the spiritual scarcity of Prayer, Bible reading, and Fellowship with other believers and sharing their faith to others. This would leave a lot of Christians in deep spiritual poverty and insufficiency of resources to survive in times of testing and temptations. Our churches and Christian homes are desperately in need of a refocus and restoration to fill the empty minds and hearts with the knowledge and power of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul’s final commissioning words to the Ephesian elders are noteworthy: “ So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified..” (Acts 20:32). Are you in a spiritual shortage? You could be out of focus. Be restored in your focus- a refocus is needed.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, do you have a focus in life? Are you advancing in your Christian life and service, or are you arrested and out of focus? Now is the time to Re- Focus. God bless you.
Pastor Joe Kurian
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