Look Where You Want To Go
When I retired, I bought a motorcycle, and took a class through Team Oregon to renew what I thought I had learned when I had owned my first motorcycle as a young man. I was amazed how little I knew about the physics of motorcycle riding.
Over the next year or so, I went on some very challenging rides. These rides were on Backcountry Discovery Routes. Most of the routes were totally off road with just a little pavement connecting you to other precarious routes. At times I was riding on narrow, rocky trails, no wider than 30 inches with a steep cliff on one side and a dangerous drop on the other. Other times we went through soft, fluffy sand or dirt, snow, deep mud, or shallow rivers with big, round, and very slick rocks on the bottom. I learned a lot about how to ride on those trips. One important lesson was to never look down or towards danger. Always look, and only look, to where you want to go.
When riding a motorcycle, the rider's body position and gaze can influence the direction of the motorcycle. This is known as the "look where you want to go" principle, and it is based on the idea that humans have an innate tendency to move towards where they are looking. This principle can be used to increase stability and control when riding a motorcycle. By looking in the direction you want to go, your body will naturally lean in that direction, which will help the motorcycle follow suit.
I have thought about this lesson frequently. It applies to us in our Christian life too. Keep your eyes focused on the direction you want to go. Most of us have heard the story in Mathew 14 where Peter steps out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus and was fine as long as he kept his eyes on the Lord. But he starting focusing at the wind and waves and began to sink. Jesus reaches out and takes his hand and he is saved.
There are many other references in the Bible about our eyes and hearts. Psalms 16:8 says, “Keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Hebrews 12:1-2 instructs us to, “Run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” And finally, Colossians 3:1-3: “Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
I have been a Christ follower for decades and, yet, I still frequently take my eyes off Christ. Why is this lesson such a surprise and a good reminder to me? John Piper, a Bible scholar, talked about this. He said, “If you take your eyes off him, if you don’t focus on him, you become like a leaf or a dead fish, and you just float the way the river’s going. The river is not flowing toward heaven in this world. It’s flowing the other direction. So, you don’t have to work hard to go to hell; you just have to drift. Drifting is very dangerous. Very, very dangerous.”
Why and how do we take our eyes off Him? 1 Peter 3:6 tell us to, “Do what is right and do not give way to fear.”
Frequently it is fear that shifts our focus, as was the case with Peter and me on my motorcycle. But don’t forget the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. How can we avoid these distractions/attractions?
Consider how we are entertained. Am I distracted or even influenced by the news, social or print media? Am I attracted to things that don’t bring honor to God. We are encouraged so often to pray. Prayer doesn’t require us to sit in a particular position or close our eyes or kneel. It is simply having a conversation with our heavenly Father.
In this relationship we have with Him confess your own areas of weakness and ask for His help, guidance and strength. He already knows your weaknesses. They don’t come as a surprise to Him. He simply gives you the opportunity to humble yourself and ask.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you daily and give you wisdom and strength to bring honor to Him. Surround yourself with like-minded believers. It is important to be encouraged by and to learn from other Jesus followers. Encourage others to speak into your life regarding your life struggles. Allow them to know your challenges and pray with and for you. Be in church every week. Form friendships and ongoing relationships. Introduce yourself to others. Take the initiative. Join a small group. Get involved in ministry. There are endless opportunities to keep your focus on Him.