The Power of Focus (Looking Unto Jesus)

Hebrews 12:1-2 

…let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (properly ‘perfecter’) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In the previous message that is linked to this, titled ‘Power of Focus (Weights and Sin),’ I shared on how weights (cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches) and sin cause us to lose focus in life. As verse 1 of Hebrews is not divorced from verse 2, it behooves us to carry on to the truths that are revealed in verse 2 that will help us keep our focus where it is supposed to be.

God exhorts us to run the race with PATIENCE, looking unto Jesus… Selah! (Pause for a moment and think about this) What does ‘looking unto Jesus’ mean? The Greek word translated ‘unto’ is the word ‘eis’ which is a primary preposition, meaning ‘to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.)’ HELPS Word-studies say the word literally mean “motion into (which)” implying penetration (“unto,” “union”) to a particular purpose or result.” What is the purpose of this word study? Jesus is a place we are supposed to be looking ‘into.’ He is the ‘purpose’ we are running this race, so that we may spread His glory and the Good News (Gospel) in all the earth. Looking unto Jesus is the ‘result’ that is going to give us the patience to run this race.  When you are looking elsewhere, your focus is shifted from Jesus, and your faith is not going to be perfected. Without ‘faith’ it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and without faith and patience we can not inherit the promises of God (Hebrews 6:12).

One thing I love about my God is that He never tells us to do something and not show us how to do it. If we look at the second half of verse 2, God gave us an example of how Jesus ran His race with focus and patience. Jesus looked at the ‘joy’ that was set before Him, not the pain of the cross that He was going to suffer. This is what gave Him the strength to endure the pains of God’s righteous judgment falling on Him for the sins of the whole world falling on Him (1 John 2:2).

There was shame that was associated with the cross. Imagine a person who claimed to be the Son of God killed just like ordinary humans, more worse the death of the cross. He was spit on, mocked, slapped, made to wear a crown of thorns. They did all kinds of things to Him, but He kept on focused on His goal – to save you and me through His death. The Bible says He was numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:9). But Jesus chose not to put value on all that He was going to go through. He looked beyond the cross, and He saw you and me being delivered from the kingdom of darkness, translated into the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).

We need to be focused in life. The Bible tells us that all who live godly SHALL (it is guaranteed) suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus, in John 16:33, said, “…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” There is hope for the believer,only if we are focused. Let us put our eyes on Jesus, focus on Him only, and everything will fall in its proper place.