Illus: While I was a HS student in the hills of Eastern KY -- a very talented musical family came from PA to visit our Christian school; --
While they were there, they sang & ministered to the student body.
One of the songs they sang was one the mother -- Mrs. Ruth Jones had written -- entitled "In Times Like These -- You Need a Savior"
In times like these -- you need a Savior,
In times like these -- you need an anchor;
Be very sure -- Be very sure
Your anchor holds -- & grips a Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus -- Yes, He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus -- the only One;
Be very sure; -- Be very sure
Your anchor holds -- & grips a Solid Rock!
My friends -- In times like these -- you do need a Savior!
Our troops are serving in the Middle East -- Afghanistan & Iraq!
We are in an election year with all the charges & counter-charges.
An economic situation that creates more questions than answers.
And that is not taking into account all the personal problems each one of us face on a daily bases!
Life has never been so fast -- as complex as it is today.
Our’s is an age of mental & nervous disorders!
We need a Savior! -- So let’s fix our eyes upon Jesus!
If we do so -- the cares -- the worries -- the concerns -- the anxieties -- the burdens -- the problems of this life -- will look a whole lot smaller
Illus: A seamstress -- who worked long hours at her craft -- developed severe headaches! -- When she consulted a doctor -- he asked her if she had a window in the room where she sewed; -- where she worked.
She replied that she did -- & he asked what she saw when she looked out of the window. -- “Well, I see people, grass, a few trees.”
“Anything else?” the doctor asked.
‘Yes, if I look high enough -- I can see the outline of hills & the horizon.’
“Great!” -- the doctor stated -- “several times each day -- get up from your machine -- go to the window & lift your head! -- Rest your eyes! Look to something higher!” -- Look to something higher!
The writer of the NT letter of Hebrews gives us similar good advice by saying: Fix your eyes on Jesus -- Look to something (Someone) higher!
Let’s look at it together -- in Hebrews 12:1-2.
Looking unto Jesus; -- keeping your eyes on Jesus; -- fixing your eyes on Jesus; -- simply fixing your gaze upon Jesus -- Who is the Source of our faith.
When it comes to running the race of life -- life’s marathon -- we are to look to Jesus -- fix our eyes on Jesus -- follow the example of Jesus; --
We are to give thought to -- & consider Jesus in everything -- in order for our spiritual lives to be completely victorious!
My friends -- if we do this -- we will not be looking around at others!
A lot of our spiritual problems come from looking at others!
We see the faults of others; -- the wrong in others; -- the worst in others
For that reason -- we are often tripped up -- because we stumble over someone else’s feet!
Look at yourself -- & you will be discouraged!
Look at others -- & you will be defeated!
Look to Jesus -- & you will be happy & victorious!
When temptations come -- keep your eyes on Jesus!
When sorrows come -- keep your eyes on Jesus!
When disappointments come -- keep your eyes on Jesus!
When trials come -- keep your eyes on Jesus!
When heartaches come -- keep your eyes on Jesus!
No matter what the circumstances of your life -- keep your eyes on Jesus! -- Always -- always -- keep your eyes on Jesus!
By relaying on the Lord -- day after day -- we will have the sustaining strength needed to be victorious over the problems of life!
The biggest problem Christians have in their walk with the Lord -- come as a result of having taken our eyes off of Jesus!
Hebrews 12:2 -- gives us a 3-fold reason for looking unto Jesus!
We are to fix our gaze upon Jesus -- because of Who He is -- because of What He did -- & because of Where He is!
1. Because of Who He Is! - He is the Author & Finisher of our Faith
That means Jesus the One upon whom our faith depends -- from start to finish! -- He begins the work of faith in us -- & He will complete the work of faith in us!
Jesus is our Savior! -- There is none other!
The Government cannot save you; -- the State cannot save you; -- the schools cannot save you; -- the psychiatrist cannot save you; -- even the Church cannot save you; -- the pastor/priest cannot save you; --
I cannot save you! -- Jesus is our only Savior!
Jesus -- & Jesus alone -- is the One who works a work of faith in our hearts!
He is the One who forgives us of our sin & shame!
He is the One who removes the guilt & the remorse from our hearts.
He is the One who begins a work of faith within us.
He is the One who walks with us every step of the way.
He is the One who sees us all the way through to victory.
He is the Perfector -- & the Completer of our faith!
My friends -- we cannot save ourselves! -- Jesus is our only Savior!
You cannot work your sins away; -- Jesus has already done the work!
You cannot cry your sins away; -- Jesus took them on the Cross!
Don’t try to wish your sins away; -- let Jesus’ blood wash them away.
He & He alone is our Salvation!
Illus: -- The Koreans have a curious New Year’s custom.
Desiring to forget unpleasant things -- & to make a fresh start -- each persons determines what bad habits he/she would like to eliminate -- & what past deeds he wants forgiven.
Then he writes the names of these evils on a kite -- & flies the kite high into the air. -- When it is almost out of sight -- he cuts the string!
As the kite takes a nose-dive & disappears from sight -- he thinks that all his faults & previous transgressions are forever removed!
Oh -- Beware of any kind of “Korean kite” philosophy.
We cannot imagine away our old sins.
We cannot wish away our undesirable habits.
We need to experience the grace & the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus!
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus Christ -- because of Who He is!
He is our Lord & Savior -- the Author & the Finisher of our faith!
He begins the work of faith in us -- & He will complete the work of faith in us as we faithfully follow Him!
He is the Perfector -- & the Completer of our faith!
2. Because of What He Did! -- He “endured the cross, despising the shame.” -- He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross.”
Jesus saw our need of a Savior; -- He saw our need of forgiveness;
He saw our need of a Leader & Encourager; --
He saw that how we lived our lives needed changed -- & that we needed power so the changes could be made; --
He saw that our minds & hearts needed renewed; -- so He endured suffering & shame on the cross!
Jesus died on the Cross for you -- & for me!
He gave His life on Calvary; -- on a cruel & rugged cross -- so that our lives could be changed -- & we could have fellowship with God!
Sin separates us from God; -- Sin is a barrier between us & God.
But Jesus endured the cross -- so that the barrier of sin could be removed -- & we can come into fellowship with a holy & almighty God!
Jesus died in our place; -- He endured a shameful death for us.
He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross on our behalf
It is not what He might do for us -- but what He has already done!
He has shed His own precious blood -- to deliver us from the condemnation of an eternal hell. -- Jesus died for us!
Illus: Following a great military victory -- King Cyrus of Persia -- took as prisoners -- a noble prince -- along with his wife & their children.
When they were brought into the king’s tent to stand before him -- Cyrus said to the prince: -- “What will you give me if I set you free?”
The prince replied: -- “I will give you half of all that I possess.”
“And what will you give me if I release your children?”
The prince replied: “Your majesty -- I will give all that I possess.”
The king questioned him further: -- “But what will you give me if I set your wife at liberty?
Looking at the one he loved so dearly -- the prince replied without hesitation: “If you will restore my wife to freedom, I will give you my life.”
Cyrus was so moved by the devotion of this young prince -- that he released the entire family -- w/o asking any recompense!
That evening the prince said to his wife: “Didn’t you find King Cyrus to be a very handsome man?”
She answered by saying: -- “I did not notice him.”
The prince asked in amazement: -- “Why? - my dear, where were your eyes?” -- To which she replied: -- “I had eyes only for the one who said He would lay down His life for me.”
My dear friends -- the Lord Jesus has laid down His life for you & for me
He has redeemed us with His own precious blood -- & delivered us from the condemnation of an eternal hell!
For this we ought to give him our unbroken gaze!
May we say: I have eyes only for the One who laid down His life for me!
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus -- because of what He did!
3. Because of Where He Is! -- He is now at “the right hand of the throne of God” -- He is now seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven!
This -- my friends -- is our blessed hope!
Jesus is there -- at the throne of God -- praying in our behalf.
He is there pleading our case before the Heavenly Father.
Lois Stevens tells the story about the preacher named Rev. Baggett -- who said he would pray about everything -- whether big or small.
He could sometimes visualize -- as he prayed -- Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.
As Rev. Baggett would pray to Jesus -- God would say: -- “Son, who is that?” -- And Jesus would answer: “Father, it is Baggett again.”
God would say: -- “Not again!”
Jesus answers by saying: -- “But Father, I have been down there -- & I know what it is like with sin -- worry -- trouble -- & heartaches -- so I can understand!”
And God the Father would say: -- “Go ahead! -- Answer his prayers!”
The Bible says: -- “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace -- that we may obtain mercy & find grace to help in time of need.”
Because Jesus is there -- you & I can approach with confidence -- the very throne of grace & favor -- with the assurance -- that we may receive & discover the grace we need in every hour of need!
Jesus -- at the right hand of the Father -- is making available to us all the needed grace & blessing & power -- to see us through to the end!
Jesus went before us & opened up the way!
Now Jesus is at the right hand of the Father -- ready to welcome us home someday!
The fact that Jesus is now at the right hand of the throne of God -- is a sovereign pledge that we shall one day share in Heaven’s glory!
When Jesus met with His followers in that Upper Room before His crucifixion -- He said to them -- (Read John 14:1-3).
Jesus is there -- in heaven -- preparing everything for our arrival!
The more we are attracted to Jesus -- the less we’ll be distracted by this old sin filled world!
Illus: An older minister who was deeply devoted to Christ -- once said to a much younger minister -- with whom he was rooming with at a Bible Conference -- “Brother, you won’t be angry with me, will you, if I don’t notice you when we get to Heaven?”
“Why not at all.” -- the younger minister assured him.
“Well” -- the older man continued -- “I figure I’ll be so busy looking at Jesus for the first 1000 years -- that I’ll have little time for anything else.”
My friends -- Heaven is our home; -- Jesus, our Lord & Savior -- is there even now awaiting our arrival;
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus -- because of where He is!
Conclusion: -- This verse offers an invitation to life’s highest calling!
When the best is available -- don’t settle for second best.
Fix your eyes on Jesus! -- Keep your eyes on Jesus; -- simply fix your gaze upon Jesus; -- He is the Source of our faith.
Don’t look around at others; -- look only to Jesus!
Apart from Jesus we can have no lasting joy; -- no peace.
But “looking unto Jesus” -- we can live with joyous victory!
Jesus has made full provision for all our needs!
Our trouble comes from the fact that far too often -- we fix our eyes on people -- or we fix our eyes on our problems -- until that is all we see -- when we really need to fix our eyes on Jesus -- & only Jesus!
It is so easy for us to be distracted -- & to get our eyes off of Jesus!
People -- material things -- & even worth while projects -- can easily draw us away from the Savior!
No one can hope to stay in the Christian way for very long -- if he/she takes their eyes off of Jesus!
An old Southern Spiritual reminds us to: -- “Look neither to the right nor to the left; -- But keep your eyes on Jesus.”
There is only one way to remain strong & true.
As Christians -- we must keep our eyes of Jesus!
We must determine to please Him -- & delight in His wonderful person at all times.
If we want spiritual progress here -- & great reward hereafter -- we must fix our eyes on Jesus!
And by keeping our eyes on Jesus -- the future is as bright as the promises of God!
Always remember -- Who He is -- & what He did -- & where He is!
As long as we keep our eyes on Him -- He keeps His hands on us!
Prayer --
Could it be, Lord that I am out of focus?
That I see others through the distortion of criticism?
That negative thoughts blur my judgment;
That the light of understanding is darkened by bias;
And the world is violent & frightening?
Turn me toward You, Lord -- that my vision may be in line with Yours!
Turn me toward You, Lord -- that I may see with Your eyes --
And understand with Your understanding!
It seems so easy to get caught up in this fast-paced -- rapid-fire world,
and to forget the peace that passes all understanding,
So slow me down, Lord -- steady me;
Infuse my life with harmony & calm -- & refresh my soul in You!
Turn me toward You, Lord -- that I may see only Jesus!