Pastor Steve, GracePoint Church, said he seeks a word, just one word, upon which he builds his message for a funeral. He was given the word ‘life’ for Burt’s celebration of life service. Over the past several years, I too, sought a word for each new year. This year, I was given the word ‘focus’. Hmm. That was interesting. Little did I know Burt’s passing away would bring the impact of that word to life.
But what about losing focus? Losing focus can bring unwanted and even disasterous results.
What did Paul, author of Philippians, mean when he wrote, “Whatever things are true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, pure and lovely, whatever is good; if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, think on these things,” Could Paul have meant to for us to stay focused and also, to be aware of losing focus? I think so.
What if we lose our focus? When Burt passed away recently, lonesomeness for him brought a sadness that could easily have left me too broken to fix. Instinctively, I sensed I needed to refocus my focus. But how? I prayed. I asked the Lord to help me refocus. That’s how. And He did.
I refocused on the Lord and His great and everlasting love for me, and refocused on the myriad of happy times with Burt. I couldn’t help but smile. Now, I am able to truthfully say that I felt that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding would keep my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Imagine that!
I re-read the words of Paul (Philippians 4:8) several times. Yup – the Lord and memories of Burt fit perfectl in Paul’s list of what to think on. Of course, Paul was writing on overcoming anxiety, but I figured sadness could be interchagned agreeably with anxiety, right?
Scripture says that Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem. That meant He was focused, Mark 10:32 says, “Now they (Jesus and His disciples) were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was before them; and they were amazed.” Jesus was walking out front of His disciples! He was a Man focused on His mission – to die on a cross for the sins of the world.
What if on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus began losing focus? What if He was distracted and decided to bypass Jerusalem altogether and travel to another town? Do you realize the impact? The destiny of all mankind would have been plunged into hopelessness and despair? Forever.
But Jesus kept His focus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. He stayed focused. Mission accomplished!
Do you need to refocus your focus? Maybe you are on a good path now, but if you refocus, could you be on a better path?