You don’t need another distraction, worry or frustration. What you need, is a target!
There used to be a television show on the History Channel called Top Shot. It was an American reality show in which 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, would compete against each other in various types of shooting challenges. The winner would receive a $100,000 grand prize along with the coveted title of “Top Shot.”
The challenges would often require contestants to navigate through unknown scenarios, shooting various kinds of guns, at all kinds of targets. In every episode, leading to the final episode, contestants would be eliminated based on how close they came to hitting their targets. This is what brought life to the show, bringing viewers back, week after week.
The point I want to highlight about Top Shot, is that, without a target, there’s no show!
Without a target, there is nothing to shoot at; no new scenario, no competition for contestants to be eliminated, and no reason to keep viewers interested in watching the show.
This is WHY learning to fix our eyes upon the Lord is such an important practice for avoiding an otherwise boring and uninteresting life.
As the One who gives life to all things and breathes life into every part of our being, there’s no one better to fix our eyes upon, than Jesus!
The truth that Jesus is the giver of life then begs the question: What makes it so difficult to KEEP our eyes on the Lord?
Things Above vs Things Below
While the Apostle Paul was in prison, awaiting his trial before Caesar, he wrote a letter to the believers gathered in the city Colossae.
Conditions were not perfect for Paul or those believers, which made his words that much more powerful!
† Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4 NIV
In this passage, Paul is telling the believers in Colossae that setting their hearts and minds on things above, is a much more worthy target than earthly things. For Paul and his audience, the heavenly realms were considered something that was pure and eternal, very much in contrast, to the temporal and perishable world below.[1]
Life vs Death
Fixing our eyes on heavenly things will, therefore, always give us a far greater return for our time and attention, than earthly things. In fact, the difference between targeting heavenly things rather than earthly things as our life’s focus, is the difference between life and death itself.
Paul made this clear in his letter to the believers in Rome when he wrote . . .
† For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6 NRSV
When it comes to learning how to better keep our eyes on the Lord, we have the greatest target in the world to help us—the cross!
The Cross Is Central to Jesus’ Story
While the cross is a symbol of hope for a lot of people today, for the people in Jesus’ day, it would have been like an electric chair.
In the ancient Roman world, crucifixion was a method of execution designed and directed specifically to instill fear upon the spectating masses.
According to a commentary produced by Abarim Publications, the intention of a Roman crucifixion was not about prolonging one’s suffering, but about creating a lasting impression upon crowds who were sure to be watching. It was meant to keep slaves, criminals, and other non-Romans productively docile and subservient to the Roman Empire. The Roman historian Tacitus provides even more insight, referring to crucifixion as supplicium servile meaning “making servants kneel”.[2]
The Roman Empire didn’t hold back when it came to the practice of crucifixion. During the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, they were crucifying up to five hundred people per day. And the only reason these crucifixions stopped, was because the Romans ran out of wood.[3]
The Cross as a Profound Symbol
When Jesus died on the cross, He left us with a profound symbol of all He had to go through in order to pay the full rescue price for our sins. For all who would put their faith and trust in Him, His resurrection means death has been defeated, forgiveness of sins is now available and the beginning of a brand new life is now possible!
Before Jesus died on the cross, . . .
† He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV
The two greatest commandments Jesus calls us to follow, pictures not only our vertical relationship with God, but also our horizontal relationship with others—a perfect picture of the cross.
We couldn’t ask for a better symbol of God’s love to help us keep our eyes Him, than the cross!
Our Sights and His Sights
In referring to His suffering and death on the cross, Jesus said, . . .
† “As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.”
John 3:14-15 NLT
It was never God’s intention to send His Son to die on the cross and not have a forever transforming impact in people’s lives.
On the contrary, the symbol of the cross not only provides us with a target to keep our eyes on Jesus, but at the same time also serves as a reminder that Jesus has set His sights on transforming our lives as well.
Let me encourage you today:
In the middle of all the distractions, worries and frustrations we have to deal with in life, you need to remember that Jesus hasn’t stopped calling us to Himself.
He still reminds us and asks both you and me, “Can worrying ADD a single moment to your life?”
You don’t need another distraction, worry or frustration. You need a target!
Jesus is still exhorting His followers today to . . .
† “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:33 NLT
Let the cross help you!
Whenever you see a cross, or something that looks like a cross, let it remind you to set your hearts and minds on things above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, not earthly things.
And at the same time, let the cross remind you that whatever situation you may find yourself in today, God has also set His sights on transforming your life as well.
The cross may be where Christ found death, but it is also where we find life!
Let me PRAY for you!
O Lord, our God, You are seated high above all nations and Your glory above the heavens. Grant unto us this day, the grace to set our hearts, and our passions on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. Help us set our minds on heavenly things, not earthly things.
Lord, may the symbol of the cross You died upon, always be a visual reminder for us to keep our eyes on You. And at the same time, may it also be a reminder that in whatever situation we may find ourselves in today, You have set Your sights on transforming our lives as well. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen!
[1] Walton, John H, et al. NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Zondervan, 2019. 2104.
[2] https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Pilate.html, under subheading: Supplicium servile.
[3] Ibid.