What are you looking at?

Do you remember when you first learned to drive a car?  If you were anything like me, you were a precision-guided driving machine!  I kept my eyes focused straight ahead and did my utmost to lock out all distractions, whether inside or outside of the car.  I didn’t touch the radio dial, the air conditioner, or dare lift a finger off the steering wheel to wave at a passerby.  No way!  I was completely and utterly devoted to the task at hand—being a safe and attentive driver.

Fast forward to the present day.   I am a driving multi-tasker extraordinaire.  Now, I’m not one to put on make-up while driving, but I have been known to eat a meal, change the radio, adjust the temperature, window shop, talk on the phone, and be the instigator of backseat peacekeeping (“Don’t MAKE me come back THERE!”), all while safely cruising down the highway.

Somewhere along the way, I got comfortable, maybe too comfortable in my journeys in the car.  The same can probably be said about my Christian journey, too.  I know that when I first became a Christian, I was totally Jesus-focused.  I was locked-in, ready to do whatever He needed me to do.  I was not about to let the world get in my way!  But as it happened, I got distracted along the path.  I got so focused on trying to do so many other things that I forgot to see all the blessings around me.  I got so busy with the unimportant things that I lost my focus.  As I ran my race, I forgot to do what Hebrews 12:2 says:  “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” I realize now how essential it is to keep my eyes on Jesus and both hands on the wheel!