Let Us Fix Our Eyes On Jesus

                                    "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.

                                     Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful
                                     men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
                                                                                    Hebrews 12:2-3


                                                                ************

                                                              WORLDLY DEMANDS

          There are so many things in this world that demand our attention, and often
     cause believers to forget who we are and why we are here in the first place.
          They take up our time and while they may bring some pleasure, they also
     can bring frustration, and dissatisfaction, that hinder our relationship with God.

          When we are consumed by our problems and concerns and worries, that's
     when we need most to look to Jesus, and remember that we are a child of the King,
     and He wants us to be like Him, and not like those in the world who don't know Him.

          Jesus is, of course, our Lord and Savior, but He is also the best example we
     could hope to follow.  His perfect, sinless life, shows us that we too can live a godly
     life, through His power and strength.


                                                              **************

                                                                    FAITH

          Hebrews 11 is often called "the faith chapter," because of its focus on many of
     the "heroes of faith," from Abel to Enoch to Noah to Moses to Abraham to Isaac to
     Jacob to Joseph, along with others.
          They all focused their faith on God and His promises, even though they had only
     shadows and veiled images of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.  God blessed
     them for their faithfulness to Him, and their redemption was made complete through
     Jesus, just as ours is today.

         
                                             "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
                                               great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every-
                                               thing that hinders and the sin that so easily
                                               entangles, and let us run with perseverance the
                                               race marked out for us."
                                                                                       Hebrews 12:1


          This "great cloud of witnesses" refers to these faithful believers in the Old
     Testament.

          The word "witnesses" does not mean that they are watching what we are doing
     here on earth, but that they are inspiring examples for us to follow.  The Greek
     word used here means "testifiers" in English, as they "testify" about the power of
     the faith God has given them, and His faithfulness to them.


                                                           *************

                                                    THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

          The Christian life is represented as a long distance race, one that requires
     perseverance and commitment.  Some of the believers at the time were giving up
     and leaving the race rather than face continued persecution, while some were still
     relying on the Levitical system and its legalism to win favor with God.

          The writer of Hebrews was telling them to get rid of anything that hindered their
     relationship with God, and count on Him to give them strength to live the right way.


                                                        ***************

                                                         RUN THE RACE

          Believers are told to run the race, concentrating on Jesus as the goal and object of
     our faith.  He is the author of our faith and salvation.

          He makes perfect, by His sacrifice on the cross, those who "draw near to Him" with
     a sincere faith, that doesn't hesitate to trust in and follow Him completely
     (Hebrews 10:22).

          Jesus willingly gave Himself for us, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father,
     signifying that His work of redemption for His people is complete, and He is ruling
     with His Father as Lord over all creation.

          Everyone who belongs to Christ, has also died (to his old self) and is risen to a new
     life, hidden in Him.  We should "set our minds on things above, not on earthly things."

                                       
                                               "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."
                                                                                      Colossians 3:1


           We should pray that God would grant us understanding of the "glorious inheritance"
     He has given us who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, who is seated at His right hand, 
     and has the authority and power to rule over all creation.


                                                   "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be
                                                    enlightened in order that you may know the hope
                                                    to which He has called you, the riches of His
                                                    glorious inheritance in the saints, and his
                                                    incomparably great power for us who believe.

                                                    That power is like the working of His mighty
                                                    strength, which He exerted in Christ when He
                                                    raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His
                                                    right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all
                                                    rule and authority, power and dominion, and every
                                                    title that can be given, not only in the present age
                                                    but also in the one to come.

                                                    And God placed all things under His feet and
                                                    appointed Him to be head over everything for the
                                                    church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
                                                    who fills everything in every way."
                                                                                               Ephesians 1:18-23
                   
                                                   

                                                        ****************

                                                        FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS


          When our faith is weak, or we are troubled by circumstances, or far away from God
     because of sin, we need only to "fix our eyes on Jesus," who has run the race and overcome
     much more than we will ever have to face.

          When we put our trust in Him, and Him alone, then He will give us the strength and
     power we need to be holy, and we will be able to overcome anything that keeps us from
     being right with God.

           Jesus' sacrifice "has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (Hebrews 10:14),
     and since He has died for us, we must never forget, He will forever intercede for us with the
     Father.

                                           
                                                  "Christ Jesus, who died - more than that,
                                                   who was raised to life - is at the right hand
                                                   of God and is also interceding for us."
                                                                                 Romans 8:34


            If God the Father, and Jesus the Son, are both for us, "who can be against us?"
        (Romans 8:31b)