Distractions are everywhere and the human attention span is diminishing, and we may not be seeing the level of danger that our distractions hold.
A study by Elsevier shows that 25 percent of recorded crashed by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration involved some level of driver distraction. There is a spiritual parallel for Christians- we are on a dangerous highway going at the speed of sound, and the smallest distraction can be sign for collision.
People can be distracted by many things- money, success, ministry and ever relationships. The Bible has a name for these distractions and calls them "idols." Contrary to popular belief, many of the idols today are no longer man-made carved-out figures that people bow down to, but can take the form of anything that takes the number God's place in our hearts. When we look to other things for satisfaction, security and favour, we get distracted. No one is exempted from distraction. I'm guilty as charged.
How are we to steer clear of distractions and keep our eyes fixed on the prize that is Jesus Christ? Here are three ideas to ponder on.
1. Look forward
Proverbs 4:25 tells us "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you." The problem with many of us today is that we keep looking back to old habits, old sins, old struggles, old failures and old relationships and think "Can God still use me to bring success to His kingdom?"
Truth be told, if it were based on our own performances, we'd all be disqualified, but because of God's grace and love we can choose to look forward and keep moving.
2. Press on
The time will come that it will get hard to keep your eyes on the prize, and God reminds us that sometimes we just have to push. Yes, God's grace is sufficient and He will give us the grace and power to go on, but when we get lazy and choose not to use God's enabling grace, nothing will ever happen to us. Philippians 3:14 says "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
You can pray for salvation for your parents all you want, but unless you obey God and share the Gospel, they'll never hear it.It is in Jesus that we can press on, but we can't just sit on our butts and wait for God to make all the shots. He's calling us to make the pass, take the dribble and participate in the work He has called us.
3. Look to Jesus
There is no prize greater that Jesus, and we must never value any prize more than Him. When we do, we start to slip away and get distracted. It's great that you're praying for financial breakthrough, restoration of relationships or ministry success, but never think that that's the end goal.The end goal is always to experience Christ and to help others experience Him in the same way.
Hebrews 12:2 reminds us "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
