“Therefore, 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, as let us run with patience (endurance)the race that is set before us. Looking (keeping our eyes on) Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1,2a)
Many of us never get to go to the country and look at a field plowed by a farmer. The straight furrows are remarkable. I remember as a boy wondering how this was done. Farmers plow the straight furrows by fixing their eyes on some object at the end of their field as they plow.
The same rule can be applied while mowing your yard. Just pick out a fence post or some other stationary object at the other end of the yard and then go toward it as you mow. It is amazing how straight the path will be if you keep your eyes on the goal ahead of you. Take your eyes off the goal and of course you will mow a rather crooked path.
In our lives we must also practice the rule. When we keep our eyes on Jesus and place our trust in Him, our lives will be less haphazard and we will have peace of mind. If we focus our eyes and belief on Jesus, we will soon stray from the straight path. God has given us Jesus as a sure guide.
This I think is what caused Peter’s dilemma. Peter had asked Jesus’ permission to walk on water. And he did at least for a few seconds. “Peter answered and said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out saying, “Lord save me!”(Matt. 14:22-32)
Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the problem rather than the solution. That’s our problem too. “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” (Heb. 12:2- TEV)
–lakesidechurchofchrist.com
