So, focus!  That is, don’t look beyond God and what God wants of you.  But, understand that God likely wants more of you than what you think yourself to be capable.  I have been moved to do things or engage in ways that one might find to be beyond ability.  Truth is, that was because the focus started in the right place and led to places unimagined.  God forever changed even the idea of “neighbor” in the story of the Good Samaritan from a person in proximity to you to the person who needs you most.   That means that our focus will be where God wants it to be, which may not be close at all.  Open your focus to be an expansive one.

In fact, the Bible is filled with passages that speak of long term faithfulness (David and Joseph among them) and patterns to follow as Paul had established (I Corinthians, 2 Timothy and Philippians) with even a promise for good measure that those who remain faithful to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13).  We speak of life as a marathon rather than a sprint.  We celebrate those who have been consistent over time.

This is especially true in Christianity where we realize that anyone can make promises of love and goodness.  But, only God centered love and goodness with remain.  We of all people know that the flash of celebrity and the glitz of wealth are momentary.  We understand that the Real will persist and prevail- all long term concepts while the temporary is just that.

We must never forget, however, that all of that is derived from a momentary action.  The Lord reminds us after speaking of the Branch, whom we know to be Jesus, in Zechariah 3:9, “I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.”  The context was the Lord speaking to Joshua, the high priest.  The high priest would annually make atonement for the people and it was a week long affair including sacrifices and much blood and ritual.  The process was annually arduous.  The effects were short-lived.  But, in this one moment, God commits to removing sin in a single day.  We now know that this would be with a single, once-for-all sacrifice.  Salvation was instantly developed and lastingly provided in a moment of God’s faithfulness.

In a world where we think everything lasting is developed over long periods of time with repetition and much practice, the one thing that matters most is developed in a moment.   I use the word “developed” intentionally.  It is done in such a way that cannot be improved upon or advanced.  It is a finished work.  We should never forget that.  What matters most in this world, God can make right in a moment.  That is why every person who has come to Christ with the baggage of a life poorly lived discovers a freshness and a cleansing that seems exhilaratingly impossible.  The surprise is the change that takes place on the heals of a confession and a repentant heart.

In other words, what God wants us to develop over a lifetime, he initiates and settles in a moment.  After all, salvation is a miracle.  And, miracles are by their very nature, short-tracking processes that are normally long term if they are possible at all.  God develops in an instant the most important actions impacting our lives.  The next time you are thinking of the long road, remember the quick start and the sure ending all based upon a moment of Divine faithfulness.

But, there is a deeper attraction that lives within me.  It is Jesus.  You can call Him the Author of Salvation, the First and the Last, The Living One or any number of terms used in the Bible.  I know I left out the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, Immanuel and The Way, The Truth and the Life.  Yes, I know I now left out the “I Am” and The Branch and even Son of God.  But, I need to stop somewhere after giving the idea that Jesus is our All in All.

You can also get cute (and perhaps sacrilegious) and call him The Secret Sauce, the Glue of the World, The Best Big Brother or The Cosmic Culmination or some other ethereal or religiously generic term.  Many do.  For my purposes, here, I prefer at present to steer away from a specific title that addresses one of His functions or a common term expressing an impact he has upon us.  I want to write about the person Jesus.

He is my deep attraction.  From Him I find help.  He is my Mediator, Deliverer and most Trustworthy friend.  Oops!  Back to titles again.  I guess the titles are expressions of the person.  He is my focus and always the most needed one to right the ship.  I am taking a hiatus from good ideas and helpful life improvement fascinations and increasing my information base on special interests.  I am back to Jesus, full force.  I have preached about too many things- most of which I would like to think has offered some comfort, needed information or challenging thought.  But, I am tired of giving good ideas.  I want to give what gives me the most joy and purpose- Jesus himself.

When I pause to think about Jesus, I am drawn to pray.  When I remember his words, I am helped.  I find it fascinating that the apostles, who were instrumental in changing the world, were drawn to Him rather than instruction on improvement of life skills.   His person, teaching, death and resurrection changed their lives.  From that, they taught good things on living life, many of which Jesus left unattended or giving little or no detail- how masters should treat slaves (or employers treat employees), how husbands should treat wives, how to organize a church, how to disciple (he told us clearly to do it and modeled it, but did not give detailed directions for how to do it), how to spend discretionary time, how to organize your finances (though he said much about money and its use and attachment), how widows should behave, or how younger people can benefit from the wisdom of older people.  For the most part, the apostles provided us the information we most often use in those areas.

Jesus gave us life and gave it abundantly.  The apostles experienced the life that Jesus provided and from that life were able to formulate systems and forge behaviors that made perfect sense for those living a Spirit-filled life.  But, for them, it was all discovered- principles and practice- by following Jesus.  So, we are back to Jesus.

Don’t become like a child with the Christmas gift that ends up playing with the box.  Resist the temptation to focus on the results of being with Jesus.  Focus on Jesus.  Enjoy the results and the process as an outcome of following the Master.