Watch the Race Closely

 She was nervous and scared, not knowing how to take her next step. Today was her first time playing on the little ropes course at the park. She holds the top line and gets her footing on the line below her. As she progressed, she looked around. Kids were zooming by her. There was screaming, and laughing. Her eyes shifted around which caused her feet to also. I pointed to a bolt on the other side of the ropes and said, "Look at this! Keep your eyes on this mark!" When she locked her eyes on the point, each step was stable. As soon as another kid runs by and she watches them, the wobbles return. She tries to take a step forward, but the coordination isn't there and her foot is heavy as lead. "No. Look here!" She reorients herself, eyes locked on, and step by step, she crosses the finish line. 

Proverbs 4 teaches:

25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

The Proverb teaches a fundamental truth: Our eyes guide our feet.

That's why in verse 25 he says to "look forward" which will result in your ways being sure. But if there is any turning to the left or right, it's because our gaze was not fixed directly forward. But this turning left/right is sin. What are we to make of this?

When we do not keep our eyes fixed forward, we sin. What is the "bolt" on the other side of our ropes course of life? 

In Philippians 3, Paul points and says, "Look here!"

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1) We fix our eyes on the prize which is in Christ Jesus. (vs. 14) 

2) Mature believers think in this way. (vs. 15)

3) Keep your eyes on those who are good examples of the faith (vs. 17). 

4) Our citizenship is in Heaven, where Christ is King. 

The rest of the nation is watching the presidential election race closely. They idolize their candidate and believe that if their candidate looses, the nation is doomed. Their savior is whomever they voted for. "He'll fix what's wrong with this country," is the chorus of their worship. 

But for those of us who call ourselves a "Christian," we need to watch another race closely: the race we're running now. This is how mature Christians think: "My citizenship is in Heaven. Jesus is my Savior. I will set my gaze directly forward on Him so that I do not turn towards evil. I will keep my eyes on the godly men/women who run before me. Winning this race is more important than winning this election."

Yes. Watch the election to see how the story unfolds. Remember that either way, it is still God at work and in full control. But do not get distracted. Do not look left or right. You'll feel your faith wobble. You'll be scared to take the next step. Fix your eyes on Christ to regain that stability. May we imitate Paul who proudly said, 

"7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

(2 Timothy 4)