Keep Your Eyes on the Road!
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
I remember it as if it were yesterday. The first time I took my kids out on the road with their permits. (Since they're twins, I had to take both at the same time) They had taken the classroom driver's ed course, but never had any behind-the-wheel training. That was dad's job. I don't think Lorrie really had any confidence in me as a driving instructor, though, because to this day (5 years later) she has never ridden as a passenger with either of our children! I have to give myself some credit, however, as in the last five years only one of their cars has been totaled, and it wasn't Holly's fault. So my insurance isn't astronomical, and everyone's got a car to drive. I remember what the most important lesson was that I taught my kids: keep your eyes on the road.
After everything David has just said about the fear of the Lord, it comes down to this - if we want to stay out of trouble, we have to keep our eyes on the Lord. That means concentrating. That means staying focused. That means avoiding distractions (like trying to "text" while driving - is there a more insane thing you can possibly do, other than texting while both drunk and driving?)
Just think of all the stupid things people have done when they're not looking. Like using a power saw. Or backing out of a garage. Or reaching your hand into a garbage disposal. Or putting on makeup while driving on the freeway at 65 mph. Everyday somebody somewhere is doing something absolutely reckless and dangerous because they're not looking.
David is telling us that when we take our eyes off of God we are setting ourselves up for something reckless and stupid. But if you're anything like me, you have a hard time "looking" at something that is somewhat abstract. Jesus isn't physically here; you can't see the Holy Spirit. So how exactly does this work?
Going back for a moment to my twins, I remember quite vividly the Lamaze classes Lorrie and I attended prior to their birth. I remember that they told us that we should bring a focal point into the delivery room - an object that the expectant mother could focus on while enduring the pain of childbirth.
We need to have a spiritual focal point. Something that keeps us focused on Christ. The writer of Hebrews told us this very thing - to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2) It's not a tangible focal point - it's a spiritual focal point. It's not something you can manipulate, touch, or shape - it's a spiritual entity larger than life. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is a matter of developing a mindset that is Christlike. Habits that are Christlike. Conduct that is Christlike. Attitudes that are Christlike. Compassion that is Christlike. The list can go on and on!
So when you're driving home from work or school today, keep your eyes on the road. But at all times, keep your focus on Jesus Christ!
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
I remember it as if it were yesterday. The first time I took my kids out on the road with their permits. (Since they're twins, I had to take both at the same time) They had taken the classroom driver's ed course, but never had any behind-the-wheel training. That was dad's job. I don't think Lorrie really had any confidence in me as a driving instructor, though, because to this day (5 years later) she has never ridden as a passenger with either of our children! I have to give myself some credit, however, as in the last five years only one of their cars has been totaled, and it wasn't Holly's fault. So my insurance isn't astronomical, and everyone's got a car to drive. I remember what the most important lesson was that I taught my kids: keep your eyes on the road.
After everything David has just said about the fear of the Lord, it comes down to this - if we want to stay out of trouble, we have to keep our eyes on the Lord. That means concentrating. That means staying focused. That means avoiding distractions (like trying to "text" while driving - is there a more insane thing you can possibly do, other than texting while both drunk and driving?)
Just think of all the stupid things people have done when they're not looking. Like using a power saw. Or backing out of a garage. Or reaching your hand into a garbage disposal. Or putting on makeup while driving on the freeway at 65 mph. Everyday somebody somewhere is doing something absolutely reckless and dangerous because they're not looking.
David is telling us that when we take our eyes off of God we are setting ourselves up for something reckless and stupid. But if you're anything like me, you have a hard time "looking" at something that is somewhat abstract. Jesus isn't physically here; you can't see the Holy Spirit. So how exactly does this work?
Going back for a moment to my twins, I remember quite vividly the Lamaze classes Lorrie and I attended prior to their birth. I remember that they told us that we should bring a focal point into the delivery room - an object that the expectant mother could focus on while enduring the pain of childbirth.
We need to have a spiritual focal point. Something that keeps us focused on Christ. The writer of Hebrews told us this very thing - to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2) It's not a tangible focal point - it's a spiritual focal point. It's not something you can manipulate, touch, or shape - it's a spiritual entity larger than life. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is a matter of developing a mindset that is Christlike. Habits that are Christlike. Conduct that is Christlike. Attitudes that are Christlike. Compassion that is Christlike. The list can go on and on!
So when you're driving home from work or school today, keep your eyes on the road. But at all times, keep your focus on Jesus Christ!
