Where is Your Focus?

Living a lifestyle that is full of multitasking makes it difficult to give the proper attention to any single activity or responsibility in our lives. Benjamin Franklin is often misquoted with the expression, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” What he said was not “master of none” but “master of one.”

To be successful in life you must be able to respond to whatever is taking place in your life at any given time. It is important in the vortex of life’s happenings that we do not lose focus on what is eternally important.   

It is all too easy to become less than committed to Jesus. We should not forget that we should have our focus on Jesus throughout all of our life’s situations. Peter learned this lesson when the storms of life overwhelmed him. In the storm and on the water, it is recorded:

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink…” (Mat 14:30)

Peter is often accused of not having enough faith but the truth is his faith was turned from his ability to walk on water to his need for Jesus, “…and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

To be zealous is to have the warmth of feeling or to be jealous of something that you hold in great value. Jesus said to the church of Laodicea:

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev 3:19)

To be “spanked” by a loving God should not invoke feelings of resentment but should bring about changes in our life that jumpstarts our zeal for God which has been lost in the worldliness in our lives.

The purpose of God’s chastening and rebukes in our lives is to move us from a mediocre Christian life. Jesus’ rebuke to this group of believers was:

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.” (Rev 3:15) 

Jesus did not charge them with specific sins or idolatry but of mediocracy. After charging His people for not being fully committed to Him or totally apostate, Jesus said:

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:16)

Are you a “lukewarm” follower of Jesus? ‘Lukewarm’ is defined as lacking conviction or being half-hearted. To be a ‘middle of the road’ Christian is an easy place to live. You can go to church and live a life of pleasure in the world’s cesspool.

Jesus is repulsed by a halfhearted follower. The words “I will spue thee out of my mouth” are a graphic word picture of how God views you if you are a lukewarm follower. To think that Jesus is sick of your relationship with Him should be a great motivator for you to seek repentance and a restoration of His fellowship.

Are you zealous for Jesus or have you totally withdrawn from your relationship with God? If you are neither of these, you are lukewarm. If you find yourself in a lukewarm condition, Jesus has these words for you:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

Answer the “knock” of Jesus and He will restore fellowship with you this very moment.