DAY 22

BACKPACK

JOHN MACDONALD, LEAD PASTOR, THE WOODS CHURCH

Don’t be so earthly focused that we become heavenly shortsighted. —Jen Smale

I love this quote from my friend Jen Smale. It’s a powerful reminder and a caution for all of us who follow Christ. The struggle is real—if we haven't learned to truly abide in Christ, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. Abiding means starting our day with Him, setting aside a specific time and place to meet with Him, listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance, and filling our hearts with His Word and promises, then obediently living out the life God has called us too. Without this daily intentional rhythm, we quickly become distracted by the things of this world. In a world where everything seems to be vying for our attention, it’s all too easy to become heavenly shortsighted.

Several years ago when I was still a youth pastor, we took 80 students on a Michigan summer road trip. This was a spiritual formation trip with a lot of fun experiences mixed in. On one of the days we had decided to hike the 10-mile trail called Chapel Loop along Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula. This was a spectacular trail walking along several of the 300 foot cliffs surrounding Lake Superior.

That day, in order to keep better track of our teenagers and get everyone through the trail in our set timeframe, I divided the students and leaders up into smaller groups. My group was having a blast hiking and laughing and throwing sticks off the cliffs, watching them plummet 300 feet into the lake with an amazing splash. OK, they weren’t sticks, they were full blown logs, fallen trees. We figured we were just helping to create future driftwood. It was cool. About two thirds of the way through our hike I noticed that one of the students in our group kept lagging behind. Now this was a great kid who was always honoring, always polite. It just didn’t make sense that he wasn’t following directions and keeping up. The terrain we were hiking wasn’t hard terrain. I just couldn’t figure out why he kept lagging behind. After several times of stopping, waiting for him and asking him to pick up the pace, I was getting frustrated. Finally I said, let me carry your backpack for you, thinking this might help. When I went to pick up his backpack it must have weighed 50lbs. I asked him what in the world was in here. He unzipped his backpack to reveal that he had been collecting rocks along the way. Some people collect baseball cards, some collect coins, others collect their favorite sports teams memorabilia. This young man collected rocks! Literally rocks!

In my frustration I made this young man dump out all his rocks. I said he could keep one, the rest were no more, and once again he was going to carry his own backpack and keep up. I’m glad this incident didn’t scar him for life, as it turns out he became a pastor. Like I said, he was a great kid!

This is exactly what happens to all of us when we become focused on the things of this world. We become weighed down, tired, slow, joyless, anxious, and highly hindered from completing our journey. Whether we are focused on making more money, becoming more successful, climbing the corporate ladder or focused on issues or challenges that are causing us great anxiety, whenever we focus on the world or the things of this world we will become heavenly shortsighted. What we focus on really matters.

In fact when our focus is on worldly things, we tend to sink and sink fast. There is a story in scripture involving Peter that will drive this idea home for us. It’s found in Matthew 14:22-33.

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Peter did something no other human being had ever done besides Jesus — walk on water! Pretty incredible! And Peter was doing a great job until verse 30 when scripture says that Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind, the waves, and the storm that was happening all around him, and he began to immediately sink.

It’s not any different for us. As soon as we take our eyes off of Jesus, it’s like collecting rocks. We might be able to make it work short term, but it won’t be long until we begin to sink and feel like we are drowning. The only way to prevent this is to stay focused on the Lord. The Bible has a lot to say about the idea of keeping our eyes focused on God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. —Hebrews 12:1-2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. —Colossians 3:2

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. —Proverbs 4:25-27

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.—Isaiah 26:3

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. —Matthew 6:33

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. —Psalm 119:15

All these scriptures along with many more talk about where our focus should be. Take a few minutes in your prayer time this morning or write in your prayer journal and ask the Lord if there are areas of your life where you have been picking up rocks and carrying extra weight because you have allowed yourself to focus on the wrong things.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, reveal to me any areas of my life where I have taken my eyes off You. If and when you reveal anything, I will repent immediately and make the necessary changes in my life so that my focus will always be on You. Amen.