Keep Your Eyes On Jesus

Jordan McKinney

I am not sure if this is true for everyone right now, but in my life and those who are around me, we seem to be in a season of great change. There are a lot of things contributing to all that is happening this year and all the changes that are going on in life. We are in an election year. Things seem to be going a bit crazy in politics with recent events. Our church is coming up on a year since we have been in a pastoral search process. Normal life is busy and always changing on top of everything else! Whenever we are facing a lot of change or uncertainties it can bring up fear and anxiety in us. 

Yesterday I was out taking a post-lunch walk and thinking about all the changes that are going on right now. I was reminded of the ECC theme for the year: Keep your eyes on Jesus. I realized that first, I have been so distracted with all that is going on I have lost focus on what and who matters most. And second, I realized I have been trying to do things in my own power and strength to navigate everything going on. And boy can I tell you that doing it on your own is a hopeless battle.

I was reminded of the story of Peter walking on the water. For those unfamiliar here is a quick version. The disciples were out in a boat on the sea of Galilee without Jesus, who they left behind so he could spend time alone praying. They got caught in a storm and had been rowing late into the night. As things started to seem hopeless they saw something on the water, what they thought was a ghost. Jesus called out to them, and Peter volunteered to say, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat. Peter, in an amazing act of faith and courage, stepped out of the boat and started walking on the water towards Jesus. But he then got distracted, started looking at the storm around him, and began to sink. Jesus came to his rescue and they made it back into the boat. When they got into the boat the winds and waves calmed down.

This story is such a good reminder for us to keep our eyes on Jesus. We are so easily distracted by all the things going on around us and, like Peter, doubt creeps into our minds. We see what is happening in life and we can start to feel hopeless. But Jesus is right there with us, wanting to help us. Throughout scripture we see that God is a help to us. In Hebrews the author rights, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) We are reminded again and again that God is for us and that nothing is impossible with Him. He is master over all creation and if He is for us, we have nothing to fear. Our problems start when we take our eyes off Jesus. We start to doubt and fear. We put our hope in money, people, institutions, and sometimes even pastors. There is only one Savior, and one place that we need our hope to be: Jesus.

I am not sure what season of life you are in right now. What I do know is that no matter where we are and no matter what we are facing, we can all use a reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus. Draw closer to Him. Put your trust in Him. Don’t let the things of this life distract you from becoming a better follower of Christ.