What I mean is this: Where is my focus? Upon what kinds of things are my eyes continually looking? If you are like me, whatever I stare at long enough tends to overwhelm my thoughts. This can lead us either to a better more fulfilling life or an existence of defeat and trouble. We can easily get ourselves caught in all kinds of traps if we are focusing on the wrong things. For example…you can look at Facebook (which is basically the “highlight reel” of most peoples’ lives) and fall straight into the pit of comparison. But, Facebook definitely isn’t the only place our eyes can deceive our hearts. Have you ever found yourself wishing you could cook better, wishing had the “perfect happy family”, jealous of someone’s clothes or fitness level or smile? Comparison is a deadly trap that squashes our gratitude. And if we get really honest, comparing ourselves to others is not the only place our eyes get us into trouble.
The great news is that when we fix our eyes on the RIGHT things, it can lead us to a life full of grace and gratitude and greater faith. We can fix our eyes on what is TRUE and HONORABLE and LOVELY and COMMENDABLE and EXCELLENT and WORTHY of PRAISE (Philippians 4:8). Our eyes have to look past what is seen to what is unseen, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, because what we see is temporary and what we cannot see is eternal. Hebrews 12:1-2 instructs, “let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” And finally, the verse that started me thinking about where my eyes are looking… Psalm 25:15 – “My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net.” By God’s grace, when we honestly look to Him, when our eyes are fixed on Jesus, God’s Word says that He will pluck our feet out of the net. There are consequences for disobeying what God has said, but by His infinite grace, when we turn from our sin and wicked ways to Jesus, then He changes everything. You & I really can be set FREE. That is why He came!