Our spiritual eyes need to be kept on Jesus. That is the only way we can be sure we are on the right path. Jesus is the key for worth while living. I know it sounds crazy for many but that’s the bottom line of faith. Jesus doesn’t only save us but gives us meaning, purpose, and direction. Once you’ve experienced the peace and love God is pouring out on you there’s no other way.

The visible world really is not all there is. By faith, we can see the amazing salvation plan of God in action. By faith, we know we need Jesus to keep us on the right track. It is too easy to get distracted by the demands of every day life. We truly need Jesus to stay focused. We need Jesus to show the way, to be the way for us. By faith, we keep our eyes on Jesus.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see. (Hebrews 11: 1-3, MSG)

Whenever we are experiencing hardships in our lives, whenever we are questioning our faith we need to stick even closer to Jesus. He both began and finished this race we’re in. But faith is not just about the past and the future. It is about today, about you and me right now. God will help us today and every day. We can trust wholeheartedly that just like God was true to people of faith in the Bible, he is true and faithful to us.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 122: 1-3, MSG)

Reading the Bible cheers us on our way and keeps us focused on Jesus. But keeping our eyes on Jesus is not only important when we are troubled. We also need to turn to Jesus when we experience peace and harmony in our lives. That is when we are equipped to cheer on the others. We are on this race together. We are to help each other along the way, to clear the path for the others who are coming after us. Knowing by faith that we are part of this marvelous and awesome plan of salvation of God makes our lives worth living. Let’s let God’s grace energize us for the race!

So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it! (Hebrews 12: 12-13, MSG)

Gracious God,
Thank you for the gift of faith!
Thank you for the saints gone before us!
Energize us for the race
so that we can run steadily!
Equip us so we can help each other out!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What does help/keep you on running the race?

Blessings to you, my fellow pilgrim, as you live by faith and keep your eyes on Jesus!

Photo courtesy of Megan Isaacson