16. Keep your eyes on the Lord.

My eyes are ever toward the Lord (Psalm 25:15).
 
I hope you’re all able to answer this question? It’s not a trick question either. What is the shortest distance between two points? Answer: A straight line. I wonder if you’ve ever tried to sail or steer a boat in a straight line (on a true course)? If you have, you’ll know that it is quite a challenge, especially at night. The important thing is to keep your eyes fixed on a point on the horizon, a land mark, or ocean marker and keep the nose (prow) of the boat pointing toward that fixed point.
 
“My eyes are ever toward the Lord”, says the child of God. In the merry-go-round world in which we live, there are heartaches and disappointments, frustrations and vexations, trials and temptations; yet, in the midst of it all, we steer a true line by fixing our eyes on our Lord. This way, we share every trial with him, and by doing so, our burdens become light, and our trials lose their sting.
 
I wonder how often during the day and the dark hours of the night are we aware that our eyes meet the gaze of our Saviour? In those moments of recognition there is hope and strength because “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. . . When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15,17).
 
Do we keep our eyes “toward the Lord”? Or do we fixate on the stormy seas that draw us down into despair, like Peter on the Sea of Galilee? We must press on, “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith , who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
 
In the passage above, the Christian life is likened to a running race (see also 2 Timothy 4:7;1 Corinthians 9:24,25). Notice how we are to run: by “faith” and “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith”. In him we have both our goal and our source of strength. In the midst of the world’s distractions, steer a true course through life by fixing your eyes “ever toward the Lord.”
 
The Lord bless you and keep you in true faith to life everlasting. Amen.
 
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Tuesday May 12th 2020.

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