Looking Into The Future
(Part I of II)
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
I. Our Focus
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a).
The word “fix” originates from a Greek term that conveys the idea of focusing your gaze. It means looking away from distractions to concentrate all your attention on a single object. Imagine a lost child wandering alone down a carnival midway, captivated by the bright lights, lively sounds, and enticing smells. Her eyes dart around without her even realizing she is in danger. Suddenly, amidst the noise, she hears her mother calling for her. Looking up, she sees her mother beckoning her to come. With her eyes now fixed on her mother, she walks straight ahead, ignoring everything else. Soon, she is safely back at her mother’s side.
In a similar manner, a coach instructs his runners, “When the gun sounds, start running as fast as you can. Don’t look back. Don’t look around. Keep your eyes on the finish line and continue running.”
Focusing our attention on Jesus requires spiritual discipline. It is much like a sailor in turbulent waters who keeps an eye on his compass to ensure he stays on course. This affects every aspect of our lives and prompts us to reflect on how we spend our time. What captures your attention? Is it Jesus? Keep your eyes on the prize.
The story is told of a man who hired an experienced guide to lead him on a hike into the Swiss Alps. After several hours, they reached a high and remote mountain pass. To the man’s dismay, he saw that the path had nearly been washed away. He felt uncertain about what to do. To his left was a sheer rock cliff, and to his right was a precipice that dropped nearly 1,000 feet. As he looked down, he felt faint, and his knees began to buckle. At that moment, his guide shouted, “Do not look down, or you will be in serious trouble! Keep your eyes on me, and where I put my feet, place yours as well.” The man followed the guide’s instructions, and soon he passed from danger to safety.
As we enter the New Year, this advice is valuable for all of us. None of us knows what the future holds. We may have plans and dreams, but the timing and seasons of our lives are ultimately in God’s hands. At some point, we will all encounter challenging situations where the path forward appears uncertain. In those moments, we can either panic and find ourselves in serious trouble or choose to fix our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ and carefully follow His guidance. If we decide to follow Him, we will discover by the end of this year that we have been kept by the power of God.
Our text provides wonderful motivation by stating that Christ is the “author and perfecter of our faith.” This statement implies at least three important points. First, His death and resurrection established the foundation for our faith. Second, He serves as the perfect example for us to follow. Even when He faced severe temptation in the wilderness, He did not yield. No one has ever faced temptation like Jesus, and no one has ever passed the test as He did. Third, He empowers us with the strength we need when we feel like giving up. Our ability to persevere in faith is a gift from God. In Christ, we have all the strength we need.
II. Our Example
“Who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame” (Hebrews 12:2b).
Let’s focus on the two words: “joy” and “cross.” At first glance, they seem contradictory. The cross symbolizes pain and humiliation. It represents a slow, agonizing death that could last for days. It was the worst form of torture, reserved for the most heinous criminals. So, where is the joy in such a death? The truth is that Jesus willingly endured the pain and shame of the cross so that we could attain the joy of heaven that will be ours for eternity.
Did Jesus find joy in the cross? No, he endured it for what would come later. Did Jesus find joy in the shame? No, he endured it so that we would not be ashamed to stand before God in our sinfulness.
The phrase illustrates the principle of sacrifice for reward We can observe this principle in our own lives in various ways. It involves sacrificing something good to achieve something better. At the beginning of the New Year, we recognize that our sincere resolutions rely on the idea of sacrifice. For example, we might give up certain foods to lose weight, students often forgo a night out to study for final exams, and a young couple may skip dinners and movies to save for a down payment on a new house. Although these choices involve sacrifice, they are all directed toward the fulfillment of a dream.
Sacrifice in order to gain rewards is a principle that resonates throughout various aspects of life. For instance, high school athletes wake up at 6:00 a.m. to lift weights while their friends are still asleep. They sacrifice their sleep with the goal of winning a championship in the upcoming year. Similarly, aspiring pianists dedicate hours to practice instead of watching TV or playing video games, hoping to one day perform for thousands at Carnegie Hall.
Additionally, many young people choose to remain pure in anticipation of entering marriage with joy and without regrets. In another context, families often leave their loved ones behind and travel great distances to spread the Gospel, motivated by the desire to have treasures to offer at the feet of their Master one day.
Jesus said, “Follow me,” and he went to the cross. Are you willing to follow him even to the cross?
Are you prepared to endure pain and hardship in order to experience the joy of fulfilling God’s will for your life?
A Blessed New Year to you and your Family,
Dr Robert Bryant