The older I get the more I admire my father. I admire his work ethic, his devotion to my mom, his vulnerability and humility. He is dependable, loyal and gentle in spirit. His body language carries with it a certain inner peace, that just “transmits” and you can’t help but pick up the signal. I love the example my father set for me in life, and I am increasingly grateful for him as someone to look up to and aspire to. I know that many times in my life, when I’ve been close to giving up, giving in, or checking out of where God has me in the moment, my father’s example has played a huge role in encouraging me and guiding me to better choices.
As I write these words, I’m fully aware that my father is the exception and not the rule. That even the word father creates in many very negative reactions because they have had anything but earthly fathers to look up to.
Every where you look in the Bible where it instructs us how to live, you can trace the behavior back to Jesus. Think about it for a moment. Here are just a few instructions from the New Testament for you and I on how to live: Be eager to do good. Always be ready to explain your faith. Be willing to suffer for what is right. Flee from sin. Show respect for everyone. Think clearly and exercise self control. See to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts.
Now look and see if Christ lived these out in His time on earth. He did. And he did not have some magic bubble around Him, shielding Him from pain, hurt, rejection, and discouragement. He absorbed all of it, fully human, like you and I. He wept.
So we do, ALL of us have a heavenly father, to look to and admire. This is what I believe it means to “fix our eyes on Jesus”. The more we examine how and why He did what He did, how he treated people, what was important to Him, how He gained His strength, where He kept His perspective, what was important to Him, etc, the better we will be able to fulfill His wish for us to come and follow Him.
So when you, like me, have your moments where you want to give up, give in, or check out, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be His afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to Him, so that you don’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.” Heb 12:2-4
