Have you ever been lost in the woods, not knowing which direction to go? Many who have been lost start walking in circles, and after a while they return to the place where they started. This happens unless we have a goal and our eyes are fixed on it. Sister White saw the Advent people traveling on a narrow pathway, high above the world. “If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. . . . The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below.” –Early Writings, p. 14–15
As soon as they lost sight of the mark, they fell off the road into the dark and wicked world below. We have all started the journey to the city of God. Once we were lost in sin and in the world, without direction, going in circles, living in vanity, without purpose or true meaning. Now we have a goal or mark towards which we are running. Paul writes to us, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: 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.” Philippians 3:13–14
These verses portray Paul’s single-minded dedication to the course laid out for him. His eyes see nothing else but the goal before him. He must not stumble, he must not stop, but continually press forward to the goal. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1–2
Sin hinders us on our journey, but also things that may not appear as sins weigh us down since they take our time and money, so that we have no time for Bible reading, prayer, and missionary work. One running a race travels light; all extra, unnecessary weight is left out. Let us keep looking to Jesus, His sufferings, His cross, and His death. Also let us run patiently, not spasmodically, but with steady constant speed. Satan knows that if our eyes can be turned away from Christ, away from the mark, we will stumble and fall off the road; therefore he sets attractions on both sides of the road to catch our attention, that we draw our eyes away from Jesus, and from our goal.
There is a saying, “if we give the devil a little finger, he will take the whole hand.” That little finger can be our thoughts, our imaginations, letting our minds dwell on things of the world; it can be also bad company, and, before we realize it, we have fallen into sin.
Jesus said the same, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10
Eve came to the Tree of Knowledge just to look at it, but that was enough to tempt her to eat of it. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:6
How many boys and girls and also adults only want to see, just to look, nothing more? As they look at the things of this world, they turn their eyes away from Jesus, and before they realize it, they have fallen into sin.
David made the same mistake. “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked up on the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba. the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: as she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” 2 Samuel 11:2–5
David’s sin started just by looking. Our prayer to God should be that which we find in Psalm 119:37, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way.” When you come home from work, and you have a little time before you go to bed, now at this time you can watch television or you can read the Bible—which is better? If you read the Bible, what will happen? “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
David expressed his great soul desire, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalm 42:1–2
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalm 32:1–2
What is your soul’s desire? Is it for a closer walk with God? Is it for purity of heart and Christlikeness? If it is, then you are going in the right direction.
It can be that even when we have almost made it, we have faithfully run the race, keeping our eyes fixed on the mark, that just before the end we turn our eyes away from Jesus, and fall off the road
Our work of sanctification is not a work of a moment, but continual progress. It is keeping our eyes on the goal, Jesus Christ, beholding Him, studying His life, copying His character. The closer we come to our destination the more dangers lie all around us. Satan is angry with those who have left his company and turned to God’s way. This work involves our all—our heart, mind, strength, and our full attention; it must be the main purpose of our lives, or we will fail.
We have a wonderful destination; we are on our way to the New Jerusalem, to the city of God. Jesus is our example, walking before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Him daily. As long as our eyes are upon Him we are safe, and we will be in heaven. Amen.
Timo Martin