Spiritual Laser Surgery: Fixing Our Focus on Jesus
This Sunday I’m preaching at Cornerstone Community Church (my home church in Hobart, IN where I’m an elder). The message is on Hebrews 1-3 with a focus on 3:1-14.
Here’s a snippet from the middle of the message on fortifying our faith by fixing our focus on who Christ truly is.
Correcting Our Blurred Vision of Our Sovereign Shepherd
The Bible teaches that there is one primary reason why our spiritual eyesight gets out of focus—blurred vision about who Christ truly is.
When bad things happen to us, here’s what Satan whispers. “Life is bad. God is bad, too.” Satan continues, “Either God is in control and He doesn’t care. Or, God cares, but He’s not powerful enough to do anything about it.”
We need to correct this lie with the truth—the truth that “God is good. He’s good alllllll the time!” The Spirit counters Satan’s lie with the truth: God is in control and He cares. Jesus proves it by being our Sovereign Shepherd—allll the time!”
Here’s how the author of Hebrews says it in 3:1. “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus”—what Jesus?—“the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”
Of course, you noted the “therefore” which reminds us to go back to the first two chapters. When I did that, I discovered that the author outlined chapter one with the one word “apostle” and he outlined chapter two with the words “high priest.”
The entire message of Hebrews is that Christ is superior…to everything and everyone! Hebrews 1 emphasizes that by painting a picture of Christ as our Sovereign King. View the video with me in Hebrews 1:2-3.
“In these last days God has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Try a mental exercise sometime with a group of Christians. Without introducing your comments with a passage like Hebrews 1:2-3, ask a group of believers to close their eyes and picture Jesus. Then ask them to describe their picture to you. Many will describe a meek and mild Jesus. Many will describe a Jesus who is humble and kind. Jesus is all that. But Jesus is more than just nice.
Remember in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan, the lion King, is on the move and Lucy asks Mr. and Mrs. Beaver if Aslan was safe and tame? Mr. Beaver answers:
“Safe? Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
If we picture Jesus just as a nice guy, then no wonder we’re tempted to turn our gaze away from Him when our trials and temptations seem endless. But if we see Him as the King—in fact, as the King of kings, then we will cling to Him and pray to Him 24/7.
Sustainer
We cling to the King because Hebrews 1:3 tells us he’s continually “sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Sustain means to uphold, to support, to maintain, to keep together. It’s similar to what Paul says about Christ in Colossians 1:17, “In him all things hold together.”
Do you feel like everything around you is falling apart? Cling to the One who holds the stars in place. Do you feel like you’re coming unglued? Glue your mind and your hope to the One keeps the universe from unraveling.
Savior
It’s not only in our suffering that we must cling to Christ the King, but even more importantly Christ is our only hope in our sin. When we give into temptation…yet again, when our temper, or our lust, or our pride, or our selfishness defeats us… once again, rather than being overwhelmed by shame, we turn to the One who, according to Hebrews 1:3, “provided purification for our sin.” He did this once for all—for every sin you and I ever commit—past, present, or future. In the Old Testament, the priest had to sacrifice for the people over, and over, and over, and over again. Not so Jesus. Once for all He paid it all for all who turn to Him. Turn to Christ your Sovereign King.
Sovereign
There’s one more amazing image embedded in verse 3: “He sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven.” In the Bible, the right hand is a portrait of absolute power and universal authority. In the Ancient Near East a seated king signifies a conquering king. Jesus not only paid it all. He conquered all—sin and death.
As He reigns on the throne, remember what Romans 8:34 tells us He is doing. “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” What is Jesus doing this very minute? He’s praying for you. What is Jesus doing when Satan tempts you? He’s praying for you. What is Jesus doing when your boss abuses you, when your spouse abandons you, when your child dishonors you, when your parent disappoints you? He’s praying for you.
When Satan whispers that God must not be in control, focus your eyes on Jesus—the Jesus who is in total control because He is the Sustainer, Savior, and Sovereign who ever lives to pray for you.
Join the Conversation
Which picture from Hebrews 1:3 most helps you to fix your focus on Christ: Sustainer, Savior, or Sovereign?
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