Troublesome Topic: The Importance of Focus
By Audry Eberhard
Luke 11:33-36 says “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you” (NIV).
“Your eye is the lamp of your body”—Eyes are all about focus. Whatever we are focusing on has an ability to influence us for the positive or the negative. We have to be very purposeful about what our eyes focus on and also the things that are in our peripheral vison. Even though I can be focused on the face of the person speaking to me, I can still see activities that are going on around us in my peripheral vision. I have to purposefully resist the urge to give my attention to those other activities and discipline myself to really listen to what that person is saying.
What we are focusing on will determine what other influences we allow in our lives. If I am intentionally keeping my thoughts (spiritual eyes) focused on Christ, it will begin to affect how I look at every aspect of my life. The use of my time will be determined by what Christ has to say about the preciousness of my time and energy. Who I am will be determined by who He says I am. His purposes for my life will become my heartbeat. Difficulties and temptations will be viewed as opportunities for growth and depth in my relationship to Him. My weaknesses provide an opportunity for me to humble myself as I focus on Him as my Creator and Empowerer.
The minute I allow my gaze to momentarily be distracted from Him, I am in dangerous territory. The enemy now has a toehold in my life, and I am in a weakened state because I am no longer focused only on Him. The circumstances around me then demand more and more of my time and attention. Suddenly I am running in a vicious circle and wondering why life is falling apart.
“When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.” We are like Peter, focused on Jesus as he took that first step on the water, but when he began to focus on the waves he began to sink. Our focus determines the trajectory and effectiveness of our lives. We are either focused on God and achieving His purposes, or we are focused on self and achieving the devil’s purposes. Selfishness and pride are open doors that allow the enemy to have dangerous influence in our lives. It is much easier to lose ground than to gain it back.
Focus must be reestablished on the One who Created us and knows us. We must first come to the cross and confess our selfishness and pride that has affected our vision so He can forgive and apply the corrective lenses that our spiritual eyes need. As we focus on Him, He will continue to bring clearness to our vision. Each person’s life will look different because we are created for different purposes and our journeys have been different, but the end result is always the same – an individual allowing God’s light to shine through their life.
Where is your focus?
The next lesson is: Selfless Living