by Timothy W. Burnett
While working with them on serving the ball I noticed one child continuously knocking the ball in all directions other than what was intended. She grew more frustrated. We worked on her arm swing, folding of hands and other things, but nothing seemed to work. After watching her for a while something caught my attention. It was so simple! Her eyes were every where but on the ball while serving. They glanced toward the net, or up in the air or over at her cousins, but never where they should have been�on the ball.
Once this was brought to her attention she began to focus her attention and eyes on the ball through the serve. And her eyes sparkled with a big smile as her serves started to move in the right direction. It touched my heart to see her enjoying the newly found success and learning a basic principle.
Once we became part of the body of Christ we had the spirit of God in us and a life time of learning to walk by the same spirit. The one thing that causes all of God�s saints to stumble and grow at a slower rate is not keeping their eyes on the right thing, which is the truth of God�s rightly divided word. The scripture shows that God wants His people to keep their eyes focused.
It says in 2Corinthians 4:18, �While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen�� Based on the previous verses, this scripture is talking about not fainting during times of affliction which is only for a moment in time compared to the glorious promise of everlasting life. The things that are not seen are spiritual and can only be understood from God�s rightly divided word. We must see and fix our mental eyes on God�s word.
�For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven, from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ� (Philippians 3:20). God wants His beloved born-again saints to keep their mental eyes on the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Keep that hope right in front of us as if it will happen in the next second.
Notice the context in verses 13-14 of Philippians chapter 3, �Brethren, I count not myself to have attained. But this one thing I do. Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.� Runners in a race keep their eyes on the finish line.
With mental eyes focused on the glorious hope there is great peace, comfort, patience and endurance during the most difficult times. As we practice keeping our eyes on the spiritual truth, success will prevail more and more in our everyday lives.
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