Fix Your Focus

by Kay Heitsch 

When I first became a Christian, I bought myself a Bible. Inside of the front cover, I wrote, "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end." Hebrews 12:2 Of all the Bible texts I could have chosen, I chose this one. I wondered why. Over the years, I've had several experiences that have shown me why I chose this text. 

I want to share my first experience. One day while I was leaning back and relaxing, I started to see a moving picture play in my mind's eye. I'll never forget the experience. I could see a person walking down a dusty, winding road that was lined with trees. Up ahead of the person, I could see the light. The person was bent over with what appeared to be bricks piled on their back. Each brick had a negative word printed on it: fear, worry, anger, sorrow, jealousy, and hatred. 

As the person continued slowly struggling towards the light, I could see Jesus standing at the end of the road. When the person looked up and started to focus on Jesus, they began to walk in an upright position, and the bricks started to fall off. As they continued to walk towards Jesus, I could see what appeared to be butterflies coming towards the person. On each butterfly were positive words like love, joy, peace, goodness, and kindness. 

My thoughts about this scene have varied over the years. Through this experience, it was clear that people carry a lot of heavy burdens (bricks). As we walk the road of life, these burdens can be so severe that they make us feel bent over from the load. But once we look up and see the Light, which I believe is Jesus, and we keep our eyes fixed on Him, our burdens seem to fall off of our backs. In exchange, Jesus sends his Spirit (butterflies) to bring us love, joy, and peace. Like the text says, "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus." As we keep our focus on Jesus, we will be filled with His Spirit, and the burdens of life will fall off of our backs.