Wednesday, March 21, 2012

“I only have Eyes for You”

“Are the stars out tonight? I don't know if it's cloudy or bright 'cause I only have eyes for you” is the opening line of a popular song written in 1934, and since sung & recorded by thousands of performers. But I wonder if any of them were thinking of Jesus.

Yet that is exactly what the writer of Hebrews tells us to do: “fix your eyes on Jesus” (12:2). The word translated “fix your eyes” is a Greek compound made up of “away from” and “see,” meaning to look away from all distractions in order to fix one’s gaze on one object, i.e., having eyes for no one but Jesus.

“Fix your eyes” also implies continuity—continuity of heart, purpose, and direction. And from the word “continuity” we get our English word “continue.”  There are dozens of Scriptures that tell  us to continue in the faith, in love, in hope. Paul told Timothy to continue in the things he had been taught (2 Tim 3:14). The great sin of Israel is "they continued not" (Heb. 8:9).  They had wandering eyes!

The world is full of wonderful, interesting, fascinating things to look at.  Certainly God knows that (He made them!).  But He asks us stop staring at them, and start fixing our eyes on “things above” (Col. 3:2) so we will never lose sight of “Him who is unseen” (Heb. 11:27).

No comments:

Post a Comment