Written by Tracy Figley | CEO Strong Tower Christian Media
It feels like I spend a lot of time behind the wheel of a car. My family is pretty spread out now so it seems like I’m driving all the time. I don’t mind it for the most part but there is one thing that’s unnerving. If I’m on the interstate and passing a car or truck that is having trouble staying in their own lane. Sometimes the problem is the wind and sometimes just inattention but it tends to stress me out. I have, however, learned a valuable lesson during these times, don’t look at the other vehicle while passing! It’s tempting because if they drift into my lane I need to get out of their way. But I’ve experienced this strange phenomenon, if I focus on them we suddenly get closer, not because they are drifting but because I am. If I look straight ahead I can stay in my lane and safely get past the other car.
I’ve found there is a spiritual application in my own life. If I want to shed an annoying habit or a besetting sin, my typical response is to focus on that behavior asking the Lord to help me get past it. But the more I focus on it, the more I drift toward what I’m trying to avoid. If I don’t look away and fix my eyes on Jesus, I’m headed for a collision!
In Proverbs 4, King Solomon is instructing his children how to avoid getting sidetracked by evil and in verse 25 he says: Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Then in Hebrews 12: 1-2 we read: let us slip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
If you or I want to put a bad habit or besetting sin in our rearview mirror, we must stop focusing on that behavior and fix our eyes straight ahead on Jesus. He will give us the victory!
