Steve Jobs was a buddhist and was not a believer; however, he understood the power of focus. Mark 4:18-19 describes Christians who hear the Word and begin to grow. Unfortunately, they begin to lose focus on God and focus on the things that are not as important. Their growth slowly grinds to a halt. It says in the Bible that you will know my disciples by their fruits. When we lose focus on what is important – on God, we do not produce the fruits we are suppose to.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam walked with God and talked with God. He had clear focus on what was important. His daily intimate relationship with his Father. Then the serpent tempted Eve and she took of the forbidden fruit. Then Adam lost focus and also took the forbidden fruit and sin entered the world. His relationship with God was changed forever. Similar to our lives, we have good days where we get our devotions in and feel close to God; and then we have days that stuff just happens and we get caught up in life. Distracted, overwhelmed, consumed with life. Before we know it, we have let sin sneak into our lives and our relationship with God is distant.
Our appointed cross is accepting life as it is dealt us through submission to God and with the patience and understanding that God will provide. If we remain focused on our fears, they will multiply with a dozen hypothetical fates of what might happen.
I remember watching the passion of Christ movie. It tore me up inside. This was a directors vision of what might have happened. I imagine it must of been far worst than could ever be depicted on tape. Jesus was beat beyond recognition to the point of death. He would then have to carry the crossbeam, weighing 120 pounds, to the site of the execution, 450 yards from the Roman Fortress. Picking up your cross is hard, it is heavy, it is not always easy and you have to submit.
Fear, if focused on enough, will eventually become a state of mind with all optimism and hope eliminated. This is the tactic of the demons – Uncle Screwtape and Wormwood. I experienced this today, I was anxious and nervous, but my brothers and sister encouraged me. Be anxious for nothing!!
