There is always a temptation for us to try to do many things at the same time. For this reason, we are not able devote our time, resources and energy to one particular thing. In the end, it becomes difficult to achieve anything in particular. There is nothing wrong with pursuing many things at the same time. But we should be able to distinguish between what is absolutely necessary and what is not. If we are to accomplish anything in life then we must clearly identify what we want and pursue it with every ounce of energy in us. We will be prone to failure if we tend to follow too many things at the same time. There are many things around us that are likely to distract us by stealing our attention; we must learn to keep our focus.
The ultimate goal
For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18:11 (New King James Version)
According to the Scriptures, Jesus did many good things while He was on the earth. He taught His disciples, healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out unclean spirits from people. Yet, He maintained His focus to save humanity. His life was centered on saving the lost. Everything He did was in line with saving the lost. The cross was His ultimate aim.
When Jesus foretold that He would suffer and die, Peter rebuked Him. Jesus told Peter to clear off the way. This was because Peter’s rebuke was a result of his interest in the things of men. Peter spoke as a man indeed. Satan took advantage of Peter’s humanity to send a message across to Jesus. Jesus realized that and addressed Satan while He was speaking to Peter. Satan is not interested in the things of God (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus was never distracted either by Peter or Satan from saving the lost. He went through everything that He predicted. The disciples saw everything playing out till the end.
I am not that type of king
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
John 6:15 (New King James Version)
After Jesus had fed the multitudes, there was an attempt to make Him a king but he escaped. The multitude were pleased because Jesus provided for them. It was clear they wanted to make Jesus a king so that He would continue to feed them. The multitude felt that they could get more from Jesus if they made Him king, but there was already a king at the time. So, what was their motive? To make another person a king whereas there is a sitting king is to create a state of anarchy but they didn’t care.
The action of the multitude would have amounted to dethroning the existing king which was inappropriate. Please remember, Pilate asked Jesus “Are You the King of the Jews?” (John 18:33 NKJV). Pilate’s question to Jesus suggests that he had heard of the people’s attempt to make Jesus a king. However, Jesus didn’t succumb to their pressure. He maintained His focus. He knew He came to save the lost and not to be made a king on the earth.
Think twice and again
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:4-5 (New King James Version)
The serpent came to deceive the woman by making a suggestion to her. The woman thought that the serpent was interested in their welfare. Yet unbeknownst to her, the serpent was interested in destroying the relationship they had with God. For this reason, the suggestion to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil was intended to make them disobey God and to break the relationship. The strategy was to get them to lose focus. Obviously, the serpent had his own agenda. We must thoroughly think through the suggestions of others.
Many people have destroyed their lives because they lost focus and followed the suggestions of people who were not interested in their wellbeing. We must be able to recognize when people are pushing us to do things to serve their interest. We must resist any attempt by people to turn us into what they think is good when it contradicts our purpose. It is imperative, therefore, that we surround ourselves with people that will encourage and support us to fulfill our purpose. Suggestions must only be taken from people who genuinely love us and are interested in our success. In that way, we can be sure their suggestions are based on the love that they have for us.
One thing
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead
Philippians 3:13 (New King James Version)
Paul kept his focus. He didn’t allow anything to divert his attention, he identified that “one thing” and followed it. He committed his entire life to this “one thing”. I presume he experienced many challenges and distractions that could have divided his attention but he kept on advancing in his course.
Let’s take marriage for instance. Our marriages will be wonderful if we can learn to focus on it. Maintaining our focus on our marriages will enable us to value and appreciate our spouses. We would handle our spouses with utmost respect when we understand the complementary role that they play in our lives. On the other hand, failure to understand the role of our spouses will cause us to abuse them. Most marriages suffer when parties involved begin to lose their focus on it.
Yes, you can!
As believers, there is no limitation to what we can achieve on earth. Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Therefore, the degree to which we can maintain our focus is the same degree to which we can accomplish things. There are so many things happening around us. We are humans and there is the tendency for us to be disrupted in our course on earth. Nevertheless, we must resolve not to allow anything to break our focus.
Staying focused will help us to avoid wasting time in doing the things that are really necessary. That is, it will enable us to be dedicated to our course. Jesus on the cross said “It is finished” (John 19:30 NKJV). Indeed, He shed His blood to save us. Paul said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV). We must be committed to our course and to finish it.
I pray that no situation knocks you out of your course. I pray that you will fight to the end and win in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Let’s keep the fire burning until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!