Focus On Forever

Guard your heart and fix your gaze on Jesus as you serve God so you can stay on the path to eternal life.

“The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices... When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak...everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me...I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice...fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God and prayed: “I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads...the LORD our God has been gracious ...God gives light to our eyes...He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life...What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds...Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-15

When was the last time you realized you were dead wrong about something? Ever take a wrong turn while driving or ignore directions? Ezra heard what was happening among the exiles and instantly knew they were wrong about what they were doing. The people who were called to be holy and faithful had been wholly unfaithful. When Ezra realized the sin of the people, he tore his robes and sat in silence. The weight of the sin was so heavy that he could not lift his head.

How did the people get off track? How had they gone astray? The text says that they took their focus off of God and started families with people who did not follow the ways of the Lord. There was no easy fix, nor was there a way for Ezra to justify the actions of the people, so he simply stopped and repented. He humbled himself and acknowledged how wrong they had been. The truth is, we are like the Israelites. We are imperfect people who are loved by a perfect God. None of us are going to get it all right. We all need Jesus to have peace with God.

Something amazing happens in this story. At the point where you would expect harsh punishment, the people who returned from exile receive mercy. The text says that God brought light in the darkness. By His grace, He gave light to their eyes. Kings from other lands could see the kindness of God. The focus shifts from where people fall short to how perfect God is. The invitation that runs through all of the texts today is to shift our eyes from ourselves to God. Consider for a moment what has most dominated your thinking over the last day, week, or month. Is it God or something that you want to gain or that could go wrong?

“Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭112‬:‭1‬-9

There is never a wrong time to praise our Righteous King. We were made to worship. The psalmist starts the song by lifting up the Lord. He wrote that blessed are those who fear the Lord and find delight in doing what He says. Is this how you feel? Do you find delight in the daily disciplines of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? Do you meditate on His words and seek to do His will?

The psalmist says that even in darkness, light dawns for the upright. Why does this matter so much for us? Because the truth is, you will go through hard times and have moments when you question which way to go. You may wonder where God is during the darkness, but truth tells us that light will break through for those who align their hearts with God, and as they do, their lives will be transformed.

What will be seen in a life where the love of Jesus has come and the hope of eternal life is the focus? The psalmist says generosity, grace, compassion, and righteousness will be evident in how they live. The world may be collapsing, but the righteous will not be shaken. They will be steadfast and keep on doing the next right thing as they trust in the Lord. It is easy to constantly fear what might go wrong or, as the psalmist said, have fear of bad news. But Jesus wants our focus to be on how we can make a difference in the lives of others through giving and serving as He did.

“Pay attention and gain understanding. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness...turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-26

There is a cost to following Jesus. Staying faithful to Him will cost you friends and cost you more than you would ever have imagined. You cannot say you are fully committed to Christ with a heart still full of worldly desires. The people of Israel said they loved God, but they did not follow what He said about staying away from people who would lead them into darkness. Wisdom tells us that our choices will either draw us closer to the light or lead us into darkness. Jesus said to count the cost. He had no interest in people who praised His death but then continued in darkness. He calls us to pick up our cross daily.

Solomon said, above all else, guard your heart, keep your mouth free, and fix your gaze on God. How do these imperatives resonate within your individual life? How well are you guarding your heart? What is coming out of your mouth? Where is your focus? These are the questions that naturally come when we receive wisdom's call to live in the light as He is in the light. Is there anywhere you need to change? Do you have any tug on your heart? There is no condemnation in Christ, but conviction is a gift that calls us out when we are not living in the light.

“Get ready; be prepared...Have you come to plunder?...I am proved holy through you before their eyes. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel...all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭38‬:‭7‬-23

Do you see what God calls out in this passage? He says you have come to plunder. You are seeking your own gain. You are living so you can accumulate more, but it is to your own detriment. You are not living like Me. You are not compassionate and generous. You are selfish and looking at how you can take advantage of others. Does this not sound like so much of the world around us? Do we not live in a world where wanting more is celebrated?

God has a better way. He wants us to learn that we do not live until we give. Give of our time, talent, and treasure. He wants people to stop looking to get the temporary and grab hold of the eternal. He tells them that He will make Himself known. He wants people to know Him. Jesus said, if you want to know the Father, get to know Me. Again, the question comes back to what our focus is each day. Are we looking to get more earthly treasure, or do we understand that we hold the treasure of eternity in bodies that are but jars of clay?

"Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways...if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing...they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us...the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭7‬, ‭14‬-‭18‬

Everything eventually brings us to Jesus. He is the eternal King whom we are called to follow. Our gaze is meant to be continually on our Good Shepherd, who guides us through this crazy life. What does it mean for you to carry the treasure of Jesus in a temporary body? Is it not so that His light, love, and grace can reach others as we respond to the grace that brings healing to our lives? We are here to make Jesus known to the nations. The more we focus on who He is and what He has done for us, the more we will want to live in a way that gives Him glory.

Consider the contrast Paul gives us between what is temporary and what is eternal. Our bodies will grow old, our circumstances will change, and the things we accumulate will eventually fade away, but we will live with Jesus forever. What He gives us is confidence in what is to come and assurance that we have peace with God. We have a hope and a future. We will fall short, but His mercy is new every morning. This is why guarding our hearts and fixing our gaze on Jesus matter so much. The destination we desire will determine the direction we travel.

When we seek what the world offers, we can get so caught up in seeking the earthly that we miss the eternal. But when we follow Jesus, we see opportunities every day to be generous rather than greedy, compassionate rather than critical, and faithful rather than fearful. We learn to forgive because we have been forgiven and to serve because Jesus came to serve.

Ask yourself, where have your eyes been fixed recently? As you fix your eyes on Jesus, the first thing you will see is that you are fully known and fully loved. You may be a broken jar of clay, but in Christ, you carry an eternal treasure. You may face troubles, but Jesus has overcome the worst the world could throw at Him. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but He does. Lift your eyes above the raging seas of life, and you will see that you too can walk on water. Above all else, guard your heart and give your life to Jesus. He is worthy of all it costs, for what He gives you could never be bought.