THE DANGER OF A WRONG FOCUS By David Maddox
Have you noticed how easily we Christians fall into the trap of a wrong focus and find ourselves discouraged or afraid? We look to the state of our nation and the world – politicians – Isis – our children – culture – our own circumstances and it almost seems as if the darkness has won and we are being overcome. How foolish we are when we look to anything or anyone other than the Lord Jesus (the One in whom “All authority has been given . . . in heaven and on earth – Matthew 28:18) – and the truth of His Word. We were warned – “consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself (Jesus), so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
“This past century, I am told, has had more Christian martyrs than all the previous centuries from Jesus’ day combined. Almost worldwide, Christians are suffering. So extensive is this suffering today that great appeals have been made to the governments of the free world to intervene. But we must remember that suffering is a part of what it means to be a Christian.” (Henry Blackaby)
SURPRISE – YOU ARE NOT A CABBAGE:
Jesus never said and Scripture does not tell us to simply seek to know more about God. We are rather told to know God (that relationship is eternal life – “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” – John 17:3) and to love God “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:13). Yet so many today are more concerned with how much they can learn about God possibly missing eternal life all together as a lost person with great knowledge. What an unbelievable tragedy. Vance Havner used to say, “I’m not a cabbage going to heaven head first. You go to heaven heart first.” The twelve inches between the head and the heart is for many the difference between heaven and hell.
About David Maddox – After a legal career in both Texas and Arizona that spanned over 40 years as a civil litigator, God called David to leave his law practice and work full time as Discipleship Director for Time to Revive. That call is really the fruit of decades of prayer for revival and teaching God’s Word, writing discipleship materials and seeking to make disciples. David married Janet Whitehead in 1976 and they minister together from their Phoenix home. God has blessed them with four children and thus far seven grandchildren.
