“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” (Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV)
As my wife and I returned from Charlotte last night, I had to fix my eyes and attention on the road immediately in front of me. As we drove up into the mountains, the rain changed into heavy snow. It took my full concentration to stay on the road as the snow covered over the white and yellow lines, as well as the tracks of the cars preceding us. Any lapse of attention could easily have led us into the ditch, as did happen to several cars we passed along the way.
The biblical writers use the word “fix” several times and the context each time is the presence of dangerous distractions. In this passage, the danger is the popular belief that angels should be worshipped. In Deuteronomy 11, it is similar—the looming temptation to turn from God to worshipping false gods. In Proverbs 4, Solomon warns against forsaking wisdom and turning to the path of evildoers. And in II Corinthians 4, Paul encourages believers to hold fast to their faith in the midst of severe persecution.
If we have chosen to follow the narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:14), then we should know it is a road along which we will face many obstacles and distractions intended to drive us into the ditch of despair, doubt, and hopelessness. Only the ability to fix our attention on Jesus in the midst of these will keep us safely on the road.
Today, heed the warnings of the biblical writers to the dangers of being distracted from the Lord by what comes at you in life. There will be many temptations and distractions meant to lead you off the road to Eternity. Recognize the danger and give your full attention to Jesus, Who will guide you safely along your way toward home.
© Jim Musser 2014
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