One of the biggest challenges facing Christians today is to stay focused and to maintain a right course in a world filled with trials, temptations, distractions and deceptions. Especially if we live and work around sincere and well-meaning people, it can be easy to forget that the god of this world deliberately sets dangerous traps to deceive and destroy the unwary (2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:4; Ephesians 6:11–13; 1 Peter 5:8– 9). Yet the Bible is filled with warnings about the consequences of losing our focus, and gives instructions for staying on course—if we have eyes to see and ears to hear!
Warnings and Advice
There is an old saying that those who do not learn the lessons of history will repeat the mistakes of history. The Bible records numerous examples of this fundamental truth. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden because their focus was diverted away from God's instructions. They listened to Satan and his subtly twisted half-truths and their own human reasoning (Genesis 3). The ancient nation of Israel went into captivity because it followed misguided leaders and focused on pagan ways of worship instead of following God's commandments (1 Kings 12:25–33; 14:15–16). David got into trouble when he focused on the physical creation (the opposite sex) instead of obeying his Creator (2 Samuel 11; 12). The united Kingdom of Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms after the reign of Solomon, who had focused too much on the physical instead of staying focused on God's instructions (1 Kings 11:1–11). These examples are recorded for the admonition of Christians who live at the end of the age (1 Corinthians 10:11).
One of the major strategies Satan uses to pull us off course is to appeal to our intellect and reasoning abilities. When our focus drifts away from the word of God, we gravitate toward ideas that seem reasonable to us, and that justify what we want to do. Yet the Bible warns repeatedly that "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Unless we stay focused on God's instructions, and heed His warnings that human reasoning can lead us astray (Jeremiah 17:9), we will deceive ourselves and reap serious consequences. However, we are told that when the eye is single, the whole body is full of light (Matthew 6:22–23, KJV). Staying focused in the right direction and on the right goals can help us stay on course avoid making big mistakes (v. 33)!
The parable of the sower is particularly applicable to the subject of staying on course (Matthew 13:18– 23). In the parable, Jesus describes four categories of people. The first hear the truth and are immediately distracted by Satan, never gaining the right focus. The second accept the truth with enthusiasm, yet because they do not take time to carefully prove what they believe, they are blown off course and stumble "when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word" (13:21). Such trials could include doctrinal controversies, church splits, ridicule, the appeal of popular misguided leaders or novel ideas—and fables. The third become preoccupied with worldly concerns (self, family, job and health), the pursuit of money and material possessions and the attraction of worldly pleasures (acceptance, prestige, hobbies, entertainment— having fun) that divert their focus from the truth of God. Only one of the four groups remains focused on the right goal; the rest lose their focus and drift off in other directions. In light of these strong warnings, we need to consider seven vital keys that will help us stay on course.
The Word of God
Our modern, fast-paced world of today is riddled with confusion about God, the Bible, truth, the true Church and the purpose of life. The pagan ruler Pilate ridiculed the idea of truth (John 18:38).We hear the same skeptical comments today. Yet Jesus said that knowledge of the truth can set us free from the confusion of this world (John 8:32). The Bible asserts that God's word, His laws and His commandments are truth (Psalm 119:142, 151, 160). Scripture contains the absolute truth (John 17:17). That is why it is important to study the Bible so that we know what God has revealed in His word (2 Timothy 2:15). We must carefully evaluate ideas before accepting them, prove what is right and hold onto what we prove, or we will lose our focus and our direction (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
God's Church teaches the Bible's truth about God and His plan of salvation, how to worship Him, the true doctrines to teach and believe, the true purpose of life, the right way to live, the right goals to pursue—and warns us about what we must avoid in order to stay away from trouble. This is why it is so important to know what the Bible really says. The Bible provides a standard against which everything else can be measured. Sadly, today, human opinions (our own or somebody else's) often carry more weight than the truth God has revealed in the Bible. We cannot afford to be ignorant of the real source of truth, or let other interests interfere with regular study of the word of God. If we do, we will lose our focus and wander off course.
The True God and the Real Jesus
The God of the Bible is a God of mercy and of justice (Psalm 101:1), who gave human beings the ability to learn to choose between the right way God has revealed and the wrong and deceitful ways Satan promotes (Deuteronomy 30:11–20). The God of Scripture revealed great and wondrous things in His law to His chosen people, so that they could be examples to the world and a blessing to mankind (see Deuteronomy 4:1–14; Psalm 119:18; Hosea 8:12). The real God promises blessings for obedience to His laws, and punishments for disobedience (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). He specifically warns us not to add to or delete from His word (see Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18–19) and not to borrow ideas from pagan religions (Deuteronomy 12:29–32; John 8:44). The God of the Bible does not change (Malachi 3:6)—yet He is actually rejected today by many who claim to believe in Him. In place of the biblical God, many have created a god with whom they are more comfortable—a less threatening, much less demanding, permissive parent who has no required rules to follow and practices no specific form of government. This man-made and imaginary god is happy with people who worship in any manner they choose, even if their worship includes practices taken from paganism. Like the ancient Israelites, many who today call themselves Christian have forgotten the true God, and have adopted perverted ways (Jeremiah 3:21; 2 Timothy 3:5). If we want to stay on course in a mixed-up world, we must remember what the Bible reveals about the true God.
The real Jesus warned that many would come in His name (claiming to be Christians) and deceive many (Matthew 24:5). Paul warned of teachers preaching about "another Jesus" who bears no resemblance to the biblical Savior (2 Corinthians 11:3–4). The long-haired and effeminate image of a false Christ, worshiped today by billions, contrasts sharply with the Bible's clear admonition for men not to wear long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). The image of a "soft and effeminate Jesus" does not fit the young carpenter who overturned tables, sent animals and money changers scurrying out of the Temple, and told priests and misguided believers that they were hypocrites and sons of the devil because they were teaching and acting contrary to the laws of God (Matthew 23:13–33; John 2:13–17; 8:42–44). The biblical Jesus observed the Sabbath (Luke 4:16) and the Holy Days (John 7), as did the Apostles He trained (Acts 17:2; 18:4, 21; 1Corinthians 5:8).He taught plainly: "If you love me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). For the Christ of the Bible, the laws of God were not burdens or outdated relics of an old covenant! Scripture states that Jesus Christ does not change (Hebrews 13:8). Like His Father, He is also concerned with mercy (Titus 3:4–6) and justice (Isaiah 9:6–7). He is coming back to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God, reward the saints and destroy those who have corrupted the earth (Revelation 11:17–18). The return of the real Jesus will shock the world! The biblical Jesus is a striking contrast to the Jesus worshiped in most churches today! Sincere Christians cannot afford to go off course by accepting the "different" Jesus that has been pawned off on an unsuspecting world for centuries!
The True Gospel
The true Gospel message proclaimed by Jesus Christ will surprise many professing Christians who have lost their focus. The world generally assumes that Jesus came with a pleasant message about love, grace and salvation for all who give their heart to the Lord and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Yet the Bible reveals that even demons believe these things (see Mark 5:1–8; James 2:19). But Jesus commissioned His disciples to preach the true Gospel, emphasizing the reality of the coming Kingdom of God (Matthew 9:35; 10:6–7). This was the Gospel which Christ preached before His crucifixion. Jesus emphasized that to be in the Kingdom of God, one must repent of sin and keep the commandments of God (Mark 1:15; John 14:15).
After His resurrection, Jesus added an additional dimension to the Gospel message. He told the disciples that they were to be witnesses to the world that His suffering, death and resurrection were necessary for the forgiveness of sin (Luke 24:44–49; Colossians 1:13–14). Yet Jesus continued to focus on the Kingdom of God, as did the disciples (Acts 1:3, 6). The Apostolic Church understood and taught about both the coming Kingdom of God and the things concerning Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12; 28:23, 31). Sadly, the "mainstream Christian" world has lost track of the Gospel of the Kingdom, and has mistakenly focused only on the life and person of Jesus Christ. Many churches have missed half of the true Gospel message because they have followed misguided leaders who have gone off course. Today, many professing Christians do not realize that they have been sold a "different gospel"—a deception about which Paul repeatedly warned in his epistles (2 Corinthians 11:1–4; Galatians 1:6–9). This becomes obvious when we read the Gospels and notice the true Gospel that Jesus preached (Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:43; 8:1).
The True Church
Many today think of the church as a building. For others, the church is vaguely considered as a collection of people who believe in God and Jesus. Supposedly, millions of people belong to this "mystical body" of Christ. Yet when we focus on what the Bible reveals about the Church, we find just the opposite. Jesus said that the Church He established would continue to exist—as a real entity (Matthew 16:18). He said it would be a small, scattered and persecuted group of people (Luke 12:32; John 15:20; 16:32). Jesus said that true Christians are "not of the world" (John 17:16), but are commanded to come out of the world and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). Christ also said "woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26). Jesus was cautioning against seeking acceptance and praise from the religious establishment. Yet for many today who have lost their focus, seeking acceptance by mainstream Christianity is a major goal—even though many mainstream beliefs originated in pagan religious practices condemned in Scripture (Deuteronomy 12:29–32; Matthew 15:8–9).
The true Church founded by Jesus Christ and the Apostles can be recognized if we focus on what the Bible reveals. The Church has a biblical name—a dozen times, the New Testament refers to the "Church of God" or "Churches of God." The true Church is not characterized by "doctrinal diversity" but is composed of members "joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). The biblical Church of God has a hierarchical structure, through which leaders are appointed based on qualifications and the fruits of conversion in their lives; they are not elected by appeal to voters (Ephesians 4:11; Titus 1:5). The Church Jesus established kept the Sabbath and Holy Days, following His example (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:14, 44). However, just as Jeroboam changed the days of worship in ancient Israel and led the nation astray, theologians have rejected God's Sabbaths (Leviticus 23) and adopted Sunday worship and Christmas and Easter celebrations originating in pagan antiquity (Ezekiel 20:28– 32). As a result, God's chosen people have lost their focus and their national identity (see Deuteronomy 32:16). The Bible reveals that God's rebellious people will also lose His protection and their freedom because they have lost their way. This will be a costly lesson.
The Church's Mission
Today there are many different ideas about the mission of the Church. This is not surprising. A different gospel leads to a different mission. The true Gospel provides the Church of God with a powerful vision and sense of mission. Many sincere people assume that the mission of the Church is to meet in little groups and talk about Jesus. It might also include spreading the good news that "God loves you…Jesus died for you…just love Jesus and you will go to heaven." Yet Jesus commissioned His disciples to go "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" and to all the world preaching the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God, healing, raising the dead and casting out demons (Matthew 10:1–8; Mark 16:14–20). They were to warn Israelite nations and the world to repent of their sins before the coming Great Tribulation that will precede Jesus Christ's return (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). The disciples "turned the world upside down" with their message, in spite of being persecuted by the religious establishment in both pagan and Jewish communities (Acts 17:6). They were not just preaching about a baby Jesus who loved everybody. They did not portray the Church as a mere spiritual hospital for lost souls. They were preaching about a real coming Kingdom and the return of a powerful Christ who will shake the nations and restore the government of God to this earth (Revelation 11:15–18). Historian Edward Gibbon records that this attention-getting message of the coming Kingdom of God was the "reigning sentiment of the orthodox believers" during the early centuries of the Church, but that it was gradually relegated to the realm of heresy (The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. chap. 15). As members of the early Church lost their focus on the true Gospel, they lost their true sense of mission, and the majority of professing Christians drifted away from the Christian mission and the plain Christian truth! Regrettably, this is occurring today to those who listen to misguided leaders. Is this happening to you?
Our Personal Goal
Many sincere professing Christians believe that their personal role is merely to love God, love their neighbor and utter pleasant-sounding phrases like "Praise the Lord!" However, if we focus on what the Bible reveals, we find very interesting advice. Jesus told us to "seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33).We are told to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18), and to develop the very mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5–11). This means learning to live by the commandments of God—in the spirit and the letter—as Christ did (John 15:10). We are told that God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32), and that God wants us to bear fruits of that Spirit (Galatians 5:22–26). Individuals who overcome the pulls of human nature and grow spiritually will be given the opportunity to rule with Christ on Earth, and teach mankind the way to true peace, joy and happiness (Revelation 5:10; Isaiah 30:20–21)—which will involve learning to live by the laws of God (Isaiah 2:2–4). The true purpose of human life is to prepare to be in the Kingdom of God, where today's true Christians will work with Jesus Christ to change the course of history. The idea of forever sitting on a cloud in heaven, playing on a harp, is fantasy spun by those who have lost their focus. If we lose our focus, we will lose our reward (Revelation 3:10–13)!
The Plan of God
Many assume that God is earnestly trying to save everyone now. This idea persists because the "mainstream Christian" world has lost sight of the plan of God. The real plan of God is pictured in the biblical Holy Days (Leviticus 23). The Passover reminds us that Jesus suffered and died so that our sins can be forgiven. The Days of Unleavened Bread remind us that we must eliminate sinful thoughts and actions and begin to think and act like Jesus Christ. Pentecost reveals that to those who repent and obey His instructions, God gives His Spirit, empowering them to overcome sin (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:38; 5:32). The Bible explains that only those whom God calls will have an opportunity to understand the truth at this time (John 6:44–45)—and that this number will be small (Luke 12:32; 1 Corinthians 1:26–27). The truth of God is a mystery to those who are not called (Matthew 13:10–17; 1 Corinthians 2:6–16). However, such individuals—most of humanity—are not lost! The fall Holy Days reveal that Christ will return (the Feast of Trumpets), put Satan out of commission (the Day of Atonement—Revelation 20:1–3), establish the Kingdom of God on this earth (with the resurrected saints—Revelation 20:4–6) and begin to reeducate those alive at that time (the Feast of Tabernacles). Those who died down through the ages without hearing or understanding the truth of God will come up in a second resurrection and have their opportunity for salvation (The Last Great Day—Revelation 20:5, 11–12). This is an encouraging message. Yet most professing Christians (and followers of other religions) have never heard this good news, because religious leaders of this world have lost their way and have no knowledge of the plan of God (Romans 1:18–25).
The challenge facing real Christians today is to stay focused on the right priorities: the true God, the real Jesus, the word of God and the true Gospel. Real Christians must develop the knowledge and character that God can use to accomplish the mission of His Church and bring to fruition His great plan. Scripture reveals that only a few of those called now will be chosen to receive a reward (Matthew 20:16). They will be chosen because they remain faithful to the truth they are given to understand (Revelation 17:14), and they will grow and produce the fruits that God is seeking in their lives (John 15:1–8). They also endure through trials and persecution (Matthew 24:13) and they finish the race (2 Timothy 4:1–8). The amazing rewards God promises to those whom He has called to become saints will only go to those who stay on course! Will that include you?