Hebrews 12:2 Eyes on Jesus #182

Last week I shared Hebrews 12:1 and this week I am continuing on with the next verse Hebrews 12:2 in the NASB says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” I love how the first part of the Passion translation says, “We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection.”

Hebrews 12:1 is all about running the race of faith with passion and determination, but as Hebrews 12:2 reminds you the only way that it is possible to run your race is by fixing your eyes on Jesus. Just yesterday I had another triathlon and two times I got distracted and veered off course. One was during the swim, which is honestly pretty easy to do since it’s hard to see where you are going, but the second time I started daydreaming and almost missed a turn when I was running. You know what, the same is true when it comes to your spiritual race. How many distractions are around you, all day, every day. It’s constant, right? With technology and commitments and work and everything else, sometimes for me it feels like my whole day is one big distraction. So in order to fix your eyes on Jesus, you must also turn your eyes away from the things of this world. Just as the Passion translation says, you need to “look away from the natural realm.” Jesus should always be your focus, but often times you will need to remove other distractions from your life in order to make that happen.

This verse goes on to say that Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith, meaning Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. He is there in the beginning and there at the end and he is in all the in betweens. So much so that when he died on the cross for you he felt joy. How?Because his death meant redemption and salvation for you and me. You better believe the only thing that got me through the race yesterday was focusing on the joy that would come when I crossed the finish line. Again, your walk with Jesus is the same way. As you encounter trials, you should face them with joy and perseverance as you focus on the prize awaiting you in heaven rather than the problem that is right in front of you.

Don’t get so caught up in the things of this world that you miss out on the relationship with the very one who created you. Continue to run your race with perseverance and know that the perfecter of your faith is with you every step of the day.  

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