“. . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. . . “– Hebrews 12:2a
I don’t know about you, but at times I allow myself to get swamped with the tsunami of news, mostly bad, that circulates daily in our world. Internet social media platforms proliferate with news according to their participants. For some the Internet is not enough, they seek out news on the Dark Web and numerous other sources. Some media platforms hold nothing back and portray humanities’ pains in all the gory bloody crushing severing details. Propaganda abounds and frustrates us. A day doesn’t go by without one more crazy extreme proclamation against something good, true, or foundational to a peaceful, orderly world. This is true of people on the extreme left and extreme right, and it causes anxiety to those still hanging on to a bit of “normal.”
Everyday seems filled with news of another advancement and inundation of our nation and communities by Islam. The prospect of Sharia law, an adhan call to prayer five times a day intruding on our ear space, hijabs, random stabbings, gang rapes, hand severing, dog killing, and Dimi tax payments is becoming more common in our news.
Communism and its stepsister socialism are becoming more acceptable and prominent given the indoctrination rather than education taking place in our educational institutions. Gender confusion, the lines between human and animal, and an overall irrationality and confusing malaise of thinking is a torture to see unfolding. It’s heartbreaking to see for anyone who loves their neighbors who are experiencing such self-destruction all the while thinking they are finding “freedom” and “meaning” and “identity,” and. . . . It’s just so sad.
The Church is not immune to the swamp of confusion. Much of the Church sees itself as “woke,” when in fact it is asleep and floundering. There is work-left and woke-right in the church. Both have compromised with the world. One side is caught up in toxic empathy. The other side is caught up in antisemitic hate and money lusting. Where are the Biblically true, sound, and righteous disciples of Jesus? We are living in Laodicean church times and it’s sickening. Jesus said, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16). We’ve gotten away from keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Despite all of this mess, Jesus says to the Church, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus is knocking on the doors of churches. He wants to enter and fellowship with us. But He’s being left outside. There’s more interest in entertaining, presentation, and politicking than there is proclaiming prophetically holy heaven sent “word.” God’s word is and must be presented in relevant ways. God’s word is relevant in all areas of life. But proclamation that forgets the Author, that, perish the thought, manipulates and name drops the Author’s name, that is sinful. Even though the name of “Jesus” is used, Jesus is being forgotten.
With the upcoming critical midterm elections, each day we see the anxiety-nerve-racking-concern meter ramping up more and more. If you’re a radical leftist revolutionary who wants to tear everything down in order to theoretically rebuild according to your socialist/communist revolutionary tastes, much of this may seem encouraging, until you consider the staunch resistance to your agenda by conservative Bible believing people. Marxists see their partners as “useless idiots.” The problem for Marxists is that their partners in crime see them as useless idiots and cannon fodder for their objectives. Everyone is using each other and thinks their plans will be implemented in the end. And until that “end” comes, it’s a nerve-wracking existence for all involved. For those ready to burst and blow up with all this joyful happy news (sarcasm), I have one suggestion for you, Don’t forget Jesus!
One of the greatest harms of all this inundation of news, good or bad, is that it gets our eyes off Jesus. Now if you’re a conservative Bible believing “Christian,” you’re probably thinking, I don’t know about those leftist commie devils, but I’m thinking about Jesus. If you’re one of those “leftist commie devils,” so to speak, you’re probably thinking, Those bigoted multiphobic hateful people who call themselves “Christians” don’t even know what Jesus would really do or the way His followers should really act, LIKE WE DO. To each group and those on various measures of the spectrum can I just say one thing, can we all just stop pointing the finger and look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith?
Now my personal preference for life is that all people, me included, stick as closely to God’s Biblical revelation of Himself as possible. I have my own agenda and of course I believe my worldview is the Biblical and best worldview. But people disagree. No matter who we are, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We speak as children, think as children, and we need to grow and mature and “put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). Some issues won’t be decided until the culmination of God’s prophetic plans. We won’t truly know who we are, who we’ve been, and what we in reality should have been, until we come “face to face,” with Jesus.
Some things, certain clear truths are plain to see. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus wants us to be sanctified, set apart by, distinguishable by, the truth of God’s word (John 17:17). But even the best of us humans can get caught up in the events around us. Even the best of us can be tempted, distracted from Jesus. To all of us God says, temptation and testing is experienced by all people. But He remains faithful and will show us how to maneuver through the difficulties and confusions of life by making a way of escape. God promises to make a way for us to get through it all, to reach the finish line, maybe bloodied, maybe bent, maybe broken in part, but He will get us through (1 Corinthians 10:13). I believe that way of escape is Jesus.
Jesus said, “I am the door” (John 10:9-16). Such a reference only makes sense from a shepherding perspective. Shepherds would corral their sheep into a fold with an opening in it. Then, rather than building a makeshift door, the shepherd would lay across the entrance/exit opening and serve as the “door” to the sheep pen. To get into the pen a sheep would have to be known by the shepherd. To get out of the pen a sheep would have to be allowed by the shepherd. The shepherd was in control. The shepherd was the guide and protector of the sheep. The sheep literally survived by keeping their eyes on the shepherd and relying on him for all their needs. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). He said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14). Folks, the only way we’re going to make it through this wilderness, is to keep our eyes on the Shepherd Jesus. Don’t forget Jesus!
Don’t graze in good news so much that you get your eyes of the Shepherd Jesus. Don’t get so sild eyed and worried about the wolves in this world that you forget about your Shepherd Jesus. Lately, with the tornado, avalanche, earthquake, and any other destabilizing news, I’ve been thinking more and more of Jesus as my Shepherd. My email from the start of the Internet has pretty much always been “Shepherdofhope.” The LORD is nudging me, poling me, hooking me with His shepherd’s staff and bring me back to Jesus, my Shepherd of hope. Thank You LORD.
I want to use the remainder of this article to point you back to Jesus and the hope we have in Him; the hope we ALWAYS have in Him.
First, the LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1). We have a Shepherd, Jesus (cf. John 10), and His promise is that we will never lack what we truly need. His “rod” and “staff” will “comfort” us (Psalm 23:4). The “rod” is a weapon used by the shepherd to ward off wolves and other predators. The “staff” is used by the shepherd to direct us; to hook us and keep us close to him so we don’t venture off a cliff. Our Shepherd’s rod and staff “comforts” us. “Comfort” (Heb. Naham) means to sigh with relief. It’s as though when we are faced with danger or uncertainty, one glance at the Shepherd who is holding His rod and staff, it relieves us and restores our peace. Don’t be anxious, pray and thank the LORD our Shepherd. Do that and His peace that defies explanation will guard our hearts in our Shepherd Jesus (e.g. Philippians 4:6-7).
Second, keep your eyes on Jesus, no matter what. God exhorts us to do that in His word:
Hebrews 12:1–2 (NKJV) – Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Note a few things from these verses. We are not alone, we are “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” In the previous chapter of Hebrews we are given a Hall of Faith where numerous people who experienced various difficulties made it through by faith. Faith is trusting God through you don’t know the end result (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is essential to pleasing God in whatever we go through in life (Hebrews 11:6). The things of this world weigh us down, ensnare and entangle us and get our eyes off of Jesus. DON’T LET THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD DISTRACT YOU. KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith story. You are a book (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). You are a poem (Ephesians 2:10). As part of Christ’s Church, we are living out a twenty-ninth chapter of Acts. The only way we are going to reach the finish of that book is to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is our Author. He is our finisher. He modelled “joy” for us by enduring the cross. The joy He had in completing His Father’s redemptive plan enabled Him to brush aside any shame His enemies were trying to put on Him. He completed His mission. He is seated at the right-hand of His Father in heaven. He is our model. If we keep our eyes on Him and follow Him and His way, we too will finish well according to our God ordained callings.
Third, bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. Jesus fulfilled the prophetic words of, “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust” (Matthew 12:18-21; Isaiah 42:3). A bruised reed He will not break. When we’re bent and near breaking, Jesus will not mercilessly finish us off. When we are like a smoking flax, or smoldering wick, Jesus won’t come and snuff us out. When circumstances of this world try to break us and snuff us out, we can always depend on Jesus to mend us and reignite us. Just keep your focus on Jesus.
Fourth, this world, this life, is not the end. Our citizenship is not merely in the United States of America. Our truer eternal citizenship is in heaven. That higher citizenship carries with it the hope of a total transformation that will remove the limitations we experience in this fallen world. What freedom and transformation does that mean? We will have to wait and see but judging from the parting of seas, stopping the sun in its path, breaking down Jericho walls, thunderings on Sinai, healing all diseases, walking on water, miracles, and raising from the dead, well, I don’t think we’re going to be disappointed (Philippians 3:20-21).
Fifth, the devil and his minions are not going to win. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). On the cross Jesus’ victory embarrassed the devil and his minions. At the cross Jesus vanquished the devil and knocked his weapons out of his hands (Colossians 2:15). It was a humiliating defeat, and the devil and his minions will forever suffer the consequences of that fateful day. With knowledge and faith in Jesus’ victory, we can face life and its battles as more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). We are more than conquerors because we are not merely confident in the final outcome, but in Christ we know the outcome. Evil Islam is not going to win. Evil Socialism, evil Communism is not going to win. Evil and the devil are not going to win. Keep your eyes on Jesus, read the end of the Bible, and remember we are with Jesus and in the end, HE WINS!.
Lastly, Jesus is coming back! Jesus said:
John 14:1–3 (NKJV) – “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Be comforted by the fact that Jesus has left to prepare a place for us to one day join Him forever. Jesus has gone for a little while to prepare a place for us. If you’re cynically thinking, Yeah, He left over two thousand years ago, when is He coming back? I would only respond by asking you to remember that God created the universe in 6 days, just think of what eternity and our new home will be like if Jesus has been working on it for OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS! Also, Jesus is faithful to His word.
God has always kept His word to His people:
Numbers 23:19 (NKJV) – “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Deuteronomy 7:9 (NKJV) – 9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Joshua 21:45 (NKJV) – 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
Joshua 23:14 (NKJV) – 14 “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.
1 Kings 8:56 (NKJV) – 56 “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
Isaiah 55:10–11 (NKJV) – 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Lamentations 3:22–23 (NKJV) – Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Psalm 119:89–90 (NKJV) – Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.
Look these verses up in their contexts. Study them. Ebe encouraged. Be hopeful.. Be trustful of our LORD.
The promises of God are rock solid and yes and amen:
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) – 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Even when we fall short and are faithless, God remains faithful. God cannot deny Himself or His stated word:
2 Timothy 2:13 (NKJV) – 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
God is faithful and we need to hold tight to His promises:
Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV) – 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NKJV) – 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Ponder those verses on God’s faithfulness. There are many more of them I could have quoted. The Bible is filled with scriptures about God’s faithfulness. Redemptive history from Genesis 1:1 to Revealtion 22:21 is all about God’s faithfulness. And His last words are, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21). Amen! Maranatha! COME LORD JESUS!
So let’s keep our eyes on Jesus no matter what happens in this world. Be alert to world events. Don’t isolate yourself. Be informed. Be involved. Be salt. Be light. Be agents of righteousness. Be Christ’s disciples. Be people of the Book. Be ambassadors through whom God can call a sinful world to be reconciled to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). But keep your eyes on Jesus. Don’t forget Jesus! Keep your eyes on Jesus, and everything else will fall into place.
Father in heaven, we come to You in Jesus’ name. Please forgive us for getting our eyes off of Your Son Jesus. Help us maintain our focus. Help us to have your word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Help us to huddle close to our Shepherd. Help us to know Him, to hear and heed His voice. Comfort us in this scary world. Help us to see the signs of Jesus’ return and help us to be ready for it. Father, in Jesus’ name, in the power of the Holy Spirit, please make us what we need to be, so we can do what You call us to do, for Your glory, until Jesus returns. In Jesus name. Amen!