What Is Our Focus?

What do you focus on? Any athlete will tell you that to be a champion you have to focus on the goal. I remember once playing basketball with a friend who had played basketball for TCU and eventually went to play overseas professionally. We were playing a pick up game with some people we worked with and someone easily scored on my friend, Strick. I asked, “Strick, why didn’t you foul him? It’s only a pick-up game were not going to call fouls unless there’s blood.” I’ll never forget his response. He said, “Howard, if you foul in practice your going to foul in the game.” Strick was so focused on being the best basketball player he could be, that he wouldn’t even commit fouls in some insignificant Saturday morning pick-up game. It’s the same spiritually, what do we focus on to grow? Some focus on Bible study, some focus on church attendance, some of us don’t focus at all. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:2 to focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.” Bible Study, prayer, evangelism, doctrine, church attendance—all those things are good things, but they’re not the main thing. The main thing is Jesus Christ and the fact that he endured the cross and it’s shame so that I might discover God’s grace. The cross is not only for our salvation, but it is what keeps us from being conformed to this world, but transformed into the image of God.

When we focus on anything, but the cross the following will become evident in our life:

• We will lack joy
• We will not be growing spiritually. Everything might look okay on the outside, but we won’t experience the life changing transformation of the gospel.
• We will deceive ourselves into thinking we are okay, and not as bad as “those people” (remember the Pharisee and the tax collector)
• We love and passion for God will diminish.
• We will rush out and buy “Christian books” looking for the six steps to a more fulfilling life, or eight steps to becoming an effective prayer, you get the picture. Essentially we will replace the relationship with a method.
  Do any of these describe you? I know they describe me more than I want to admit.
  
  We need to rediscover the truth that saved us. The key to joy, growth, passion is not found in some “secret,” nor is it in the latest method or prayer being promoted. It’s right before us—it’s the gospel.