Rules of Engagement: The Consequence of Losing Focus

Is God your focal point? A focal point is the center of attention it also is the heart of a matter. In light its where all light rays converge. (That's a whole other message)  In faith, God should always be our focal point, center of attention, and at the core of our heart. A story within the book of Matthew reminds us of the consequences of taking our focus off of God. Sometimes we become distracted by our current set of circumstances or discouraged by False Evidence Appearing Real and lose sight of God. As a result we sink in our situation.

Within the book of Matthew 14:22 the author tells a story about Jesus walking on water. During this story you may recall Peter asking Jesus to call him out of the boat. As Peter stepped out of the boat he began to walk on water as Jesus did, but the text tells us that the moment Peter became distracted by the storm, he became fearful and he began to sink. Jesus reached out to Peter and rescued him saying, “You of so little faith.  The key word in this story is distracted which is another word for unfocused. In life we are sometimes just like Peter and pay dearly for taking our focus off of God. Every time we allow something to occupy of focus that is not God we become susceptible to failure.

For a split second the storm became Peter's focus and not Jesus. Within a split second the false reality of the situation took root and toppled Peter's faith. In life that's all it really takes. I am positive that the disciples knew what Jesus was capable of, but in the face of a storm their focus became lost at sea. I'm sure that a series of thoughts ran through Peter's mind the moment He stepped out of that boat. First, it was unconditional faith totally centered on Christ. Then, it became conditional faith in Christ and concern with the severity of the storm. Lastly, the false realization that no man can walk on water let alone during a storm. This thought process is completely void of God being completely in control.

Is that not us at times? We want to be filled, but unwilling to be focused. We want God to reign in our lives, but refuse to have the mind of Christ as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:16. We must elevate our capacity to fulfill our God given potential. This is only accomplished through the abandonment of the worlds thoughts and the adoption of Gods thoughts.

God as the Equation

Let's categorize God as an equation. An equation shows something of equal value. Lets ponder what is equal to God? For many people God plays a very big part of the equation, but what they are missing is that God is the equation. Observe:

GOD + (Anything) = Nothing

GOD = GOD (that’s  Everything)

Lets go deeper. The book of John starts of with, "in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God". Anything that can be with something and something at the same time shows how it needs not to be coupled with anything else.

God Stands Alone

God stands alone and when we seek His Kingdom and all His righteousness all these things will be added to us Matthew 6:33. So seek him alone and know that He is the only thing you need. God is the big picture, the only picture. The moment we lose sight of this truth, our lives take a turn for the worse. Looking at the story within the book of Matthew we learn that it only takes a second to lose focus. When we lose focus we lose faith and we then lose control. This can serve as an example for anything in life, marriage or ministry.

In the book of Joshua 1:8 the word instructs us to meditate on His word day and night. The passage promised that we will be prosperous and successful as a result. The book of Joshua later tells us the price the army paid when some of them took their focus off of God. The text is telling us that we must be all in and completely focused on God in order to be successful in our situation. 

In closing, Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things in Christ that strengthens us. Therefore the only way to do all things is with God at our focal point. Let us keep Him guarded in our hearts and never loose sight of Him. God is the never part of the equation, but the entire equation. 

Be encouraged and be blessed,