‘So let us keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us’ Phil.3:15 TM.
During a recent pastoral visit our minister, Ross, mentioned a book which had been recommended to him bearing the title “Stolen Focus”. Written by a journalist concerned about the decreasing attention span evident in young people, students, office workers and many other people today, accelerated by the internet. Just hearing the title and later contemplating it triggered my thinking on the subject of staying in focus as a Christian.
In his letter Philippians 3:2 -21, Paul is deeply concerned about the Jewish ‘believers’ who were insisting all new Gentile Christians should be circumcised. He called them ‘knife happy’. Paul himself had all the Jewish credentials which they prized, and which he ‘threw away as trash’ so that he could ‘embrace Christ and be embraced by him’ TM. Christ became his point of focus, the goal set by God to which he devoted all his energy.
Smart phones today with HD cameras provide instant photography with sharp focus and great detail. An instructor or teacher tells the student to pay attention and stay focused on the subject. We take our eyesight for granted, but when it becomes unclear we realize how precious it is and correct it. Paul compared himself to an athlete ‘off and running’ to reach the finishing line and win the prize, and urged his readers to follow suit saying God, ’will clear their blurred vision’ TM.
Jesus challenged the religious leaders, who were his severest critics, saying their vision of God was unclear. It was blurred because they were not clean inside Mt.23:25. They had lost clarity to such an extent he called them ‘Blind guides’ Mt.23:16. He declared part of his God given mission was, ‘To recover the sight of the blind’ Lk.4:18. Writing on a blurry vision of God C.S Lewis comments ‘if a man’s self is not kept clean and bright his glimpse of God will be blurred – like the Moon seen through a dirty telescope’. We can lose focus by inner uncleanliness, by outer distractions, by knocks on the head or heart.
We can be a Christian in name, attending worship, practicing rituals and devotional disciplines and secretly look at the opposite sex with sexual longings, and at others with suspicion, envy and hatred. We can wear vestments, administer sacraments, read the Bible and watch pornographic movies, or be a paedophile. This silent action lies in the mind, but any engagement in such things distorts our image of God.
Verbal, visual, occupational and recreational distractions are in abundance today occupying our time, emptying our pocket and draining our energy. Texting has become an addiction for some. Facebook and Twitter substitute for personal, real life encounters. TV screening is available day and night. If we allow it this volume of distractions can overwhelm depriving us of a ‘quiet time’ with God. We squeeze in a few spare moments, or neglect devotions altogether. We lose focus and gradually his image on our screen fade
Knocks – like illness, accident, or bereavement hit us interfering with our normal balance, blurring our vision. We lose our poise and wobble. Pain of any kind fills our mind and wrings from the heart a cry for help. Our prayers just hit the ceiling and the silence shakes our faith. Where is God? Why doesn’t he answer? He goes out of focus just as we desperately want him to be clearly evident to meet our need.
When we compare our finite smallness and insignificance with God’s infinite greatness, controlling the entire universe, our mind cannot grasp the immensity. God becomes an invisible Source of power and glory beyond our understanding. We lose focus. A wise colleague reminded me to stay focused on Jesus as ‘a dear Friend who walks quietly with us’. His counsel to see Jesus as a Friend was a helpful reminder placing Jesus within reach of my imagination. Jesus regarded his disciples as ‘friends’ John 15:14 and friendship works both ways. Jesus, though he is Lord, is a flesh and blood image we can picture sitting with us, conversing with us, walking with us. His physical appearance has a reality we can focus on. Reference to an ‘Almighty God’ as an invisible Force, or Creator may shake our screen into disorganized pixels blurring our focus.
The apostle Paul focused on the risen Jesus as Christ the Son of God; the One whom God had promised to send. For Paul to live was Christ. To know Him within is what Jesus had promised ‘I in you and you in me’. Paul would heartily sing that old hymn ‘I’ve found a Friend; O such a Friend/So kind , and true, and tender!/So wise a Counsellor and Guide,/So mighty a Defender!/From Him who loves me now so well/What power my soul shall sever?/Shall life or death? Shall earth or hell?/No! I am His forever’. MHB 423. Let us choose to keep our focus on Jesus, as Friend and Lord.