FOLLOW-UP:  How  to NOT GROW WEARY OR LOSE HEART

The previous post included these two verses:

  • “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13)
  • “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, WHILE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

As you probably know, ahead of launching this website to track this historic effort, I wanted to demonstrate proof of authenticity so it would be clear that this is already well beyond wishful thinking or the proverbial “pie in the sky” so after finishing three books of the Bible (3 done, 63 to go!) I recited each of those on video so anyone who wants to can easily and fully track my progress each step of the way.  As indicated on the home page, one of those was the book of Hebrews.

It would be impossible to decide which is my “favorite” book of the Bible.  Those of you who have children can relate, which is YOUR favorite?  Exactly.  You love them all the same.  And I find that to be the case with the Bible.  It truly is one book with 66 different parts, and I love them all the same BUT I’m sure you’d agree that while you love all your children or nephews and nieces the same, you probably get along or connect with each of them on different levels, and that’s how it is with me and the different books of the Bible:  I love them all the same but “connect” with them to varying degrees in that some of them “speak to me” or “pierce my soul” seemingly more than others.  And in that sense I’d have to put Romans and Hebrews at the very top of the list.  The Holy Spirit keeps bring various verses from those two books to mind more than any other, literally several times a day for each.  While I’m still working on finishing memorizing Romans, because Hebrews is one of the first three, I recite several chapters from it every few days and today’s portion happened to be Chapters 9-13 and one of those verses spoke PERFECTLY and FITS perfectly with the two noted in the previous post and reprinted above.

It fits so perfectly because it tells us HOW to “not lose heart” and HOW to “not grow weary”:

  • “… and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, FIXING OUR EYES on JESUS, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For CONSIDER HIM who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, SO THAT YOU may NOT GROW WEARY and LOSE HEART.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

So I’d like to use this post to briefly delve into this wonderful — and wonderfully helpful — verse.

Its focus is clearly on both sides of the same coin:  ENDURING and NOT GROWING WEARY OR LOSING HEART.

The Bible makes clear that this is absolutely crucial, imperative:  “But he who ENDURES to the end shall be SAVED.” (Matthew 24:13)

Crystal clear.  Consummately crucial.

But thankfully the verse above doesn’t just communicate how important it is to endure but also tells us exactly HOW:  by “FIXING OUR EYES on JESUS”, to “CONSIDER Him”.

That word “fixing” is very interesting in the Greek.  In two ways:  its tense and its meaning.

Its tense is present active participle, which conveys the idea of an action which should be ongoing.  It could be translated as “KEEP fixing your eyes” or “continually fixing your eyes”.  This clearly speaks to its importance in terms of sanctification since salvation is a one-time event, never to be — nor needed to be — repeated.  But where (i.e., on whom) we put our FOCUS each day (each hour, each minute) should be an ongoing, continual thing, and it should be placed squarely on the Lord Jesus Christ.

And that phrase “consider Him” in verse 3 immediately reminds me of  “REMEMBER Jesus Christ” in 2 Timothy 2:8.  That tense is also active — present active imperative — which conveys that very same idea of the action’s being ongoing and continual in nature.

So many people, so many Christians, try so hard to be “responsible” and “handle things on their own” — and humanly that’s a fine and good trait.  But not spiritually.  It’s just the opposite and worse:  it’s deadly.  Downright destructive to the core.  Because we humans, wrapped and drenched in fallen flesh, simply don’t have the innate capacity to do so.  By default we walk up the down escalator.

But praise the Lord, He has provided the way to flip that script, to change one’s at-birth default setting so as to start and keep walking up the UP escalator — and that’s to place our ongoing focus on HIM.  On His Person.  On His life.  On His death.  On His resurrection.  On His past earthly ministry and ongoing present heavenly ministries.  Like interceding with the Heavenly Father on our behalf (Romans 8:34).  Like advocating with the Judge on our behalf (1 John 2:1) as discussed more in-depth in a recent post.

Lastly — and speaking of which — I’d like to end this post by mentioning the full meaning of that word “fixing” in Greek, in the original language of this verse.

I know, I know, boresville snoresville, right?  WRONG!  This is exciting!  This is good stuff!  This can feed your soul and heart and mind for years and years to come.  Because implicit, inherent in that word isn’t just the English notion of looking to Jesus and continually fixing our eyes, our gaze, on Him, but also the act of turning our eyes, our focus, AWAY FROM something else.

From ourselves.  From self.  From our desires and our will and our lives and our issues and our goals.  And ONTO His.  Onto HIM.

I’ve found this very same principle in the Bible regarding love.  Dual action required for true focus and true love, so stay tuned for that in the next post.  But for now, may each of us exhibit the wisdom and reap the pure and utter joy of moving our focus off of ourselves and onto Him.  This will not come easily nor comfortably because it’s diametrically different, it’s the opposite end of the spectrum from human nature.  But let’s resolve ourselves to power through that initial discomfort and reap the massive fruit and rewards — not just in the life to come but also in THIS present earthly life (1 Timothy 4:8).  Because by focusing on Him will result in following Him, in following His perfect example in every aspect of life:  humility, grace, mercy, kindness, love, selflessness, confidence, purity, purpose.

In a recent post I mentioned a fellow from my church who gave me some of the best advice I’ve ever received when I was a teenager trying to decide what my first car should be.  As mentioned he was in the automotive business and not just great at selling them but also repairing them.  And I’d often join him to hand him the tool he needed at any given time as he remained under the vehicle he was working on and I remember something he said one time which, like that other piece of advice, I’ve never forgotten, it has remained with me ever since and all the time.  He had just lodged himself under the car and was trying to position himself so he could use a ratchet wrench without too much discomfort but also had to get his head in a proper position so he could see the various nuts and bolts he needed to remove and he finally figured that out and — clearly gleeful, clearly relieved — said this:  “It’s all about getting your head in the right position.”

And that’s EXACTLY how it is in life!  May we decide this day, here and now, to take our focus OFF OF ourselves and ONTO the Lord Jesus Christ.  Every day.  Every hour.  Every minute.  And I can tell you with 100% certainty that HE will meet all of YOUR needs and replace “losing heart” and “growing weary” with an indescribable, inexpressible quality and level of joy and endurance.  Like George Foreman says at the end of those Meineke TV ads and George Zimmer in those former Men’s Wearhouse ads… I GUARANTEE IT!
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