FIXING THE FOCUS
Rev. Larry Peters
Psalm 105:1-5, 7
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14: 22-33
Let’s think for a moment, about drawing a circle. We may not be able to draw a perfect circle, so we will be using a compass to help us. The first thing that we do is to decide on a focal point. We determine this to be the center of our circle. This is important, because the center (and determining where that will be) is what the completion of the circle depends on. We will call this fixing the focus.
The center of the circle is the place where we start and we can then extend the radius outward. We place the point of our compass at the place we have determined to be our focal point. This will be our center. Then, by extending outward, we can make our circle as big or small as we want. We then draw the perimeter or circumference. Finally, we have our completed and perfect circle along with our center.
“Interesting”, you might say, “But what place does this have in church? And what has this to do with me?” Well, this is a Christian circle. You may remember that Rev. Jensen talked last Sunday about a Christian bear. Today I offer you the concept of the Christian circle. My apologies to Rev. Jensen, and I ask you to please bear with me. I’d like to make the analogy that this perfect circle represents a Christian life, each one of us. Christ should be at the center of our life, our focal point, our sure foundation upon whom our life can be drawn around and made complete.
There is nothing more important for us than to fix the focus of our lives. What is central for us? What is foundational for us? What is it that shapes our identity, our perception, our values, our decisions? What is the core reality at the center of our life out of which everything else extends and depends on?
Some people do not place Christ at the center of their life. They put something else there. That something else could be just about anything. Anything else that you would put, in the matter of importance, ahead of Christ. Something or anything that you think is more important.
Now we have already determined that a more perfect circle needs a center, a focal point. This circle (an imperfect circle) needs some help. If this were a wheel we would be in for a rough ride! If this represents our life, then the road we travel is a bumpy one. As represented by this imperfect circle, we might be bent out of shape, flat or deflated, or pulled in different directions. There is no control to our life. A more perfect circle needs a center, a focal point.
Again, if we think of our life as the drawing of a circle, we do not have a choice as to whether or not there is something at the center of our life; something is. Somewhere in this imperfect circle there is a center. There is a focal point; it’s just not easy for us to determine what it is. We do have a choice, though, as to where and what it will be. We can determine for ourselves what is at the center of our life shaping us.
It becomes obvious that not just any center of meaning will do. Life will be good, fulfilling, meaningful, wholesome and more perfect-or, life will be less than good, less than perfect, depending on what we place at the center of life; the center of our life, our center of meaning. And the Gospel makes it clear that only God made known in Christ is worthy of that all-important position!
How do we get to the center? How do we fix our focus and become centered on Christ? Let’s look at our lesson today from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. Here Paul says that the answer is within you. It is how you perceive Christ and receive the Word of God. Paul says that “righteousness comes from faith” (Rom. 10:6). This lesson declares that “the word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (v.8).
But what will you do with it? Will you hide it, suppress it, ignore it? Or-will you receive it, believe it, proclaim it? Hear this message and decide what you will do! “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (v.9). This means that you will be put right with God. You will be saved from your imperfect past, and saved for a more perfect life with Christ at the center. You have made the all-important decision to believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life!
Believing and confessing-part of what we see happening in a life dedicated to Jesus Christ. As we review the lesson in the Gospel according to Matthew, we will see more. (I’ve made a list; watch for these).
Just after the feeding of the multitudes of people on the lake shore, Jesus sent the disciples across the lake by boat. Here is one example where we see that those who follow Christ are obedient to him. Jesus had wanted this time to be with his disciples. A large crowd gathered and Jesus taught his disciples to have compassion for the needs of others and to minister to them. Jesus then dismissed the crowds of people and he went up the mountain by himself to be in prayer. There was time with God’s people, and time with God. Praying is a time for fixing the focus. Jesus repeatedly acknowledged that God is the source of all goodness and power in his life, and so prayer is going to the source!
Meanwhile, back at the lake, things were starting to get out of focus. Jesus was not with the disciples on the boat, and so they began to get distracted. A storm had come and was threatening them and their small boat with disaster. There were many storms of life. We are often in trouble and tossed about, weary from the struggle and about to give up. Here the lesson teaches us to always be of good hope and to have courage. “Take heart,” Jesus says, “Do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27).
Remember that “the word of God is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (Rom. 10:8). The Lord of your life will see your distress and hear your cries for help, and moves ever closer! Christ come to us!, and we are invited to come to Christ! Notice that the Christian is constantly in movement. Constantly overcoming obstacles, coming to faith, fixing our focus on Christ our Lord, building upon the close relationship that we have, and seeking to move ever close! “Righteousness comes from faith” (v.6), so Christ our Lord calls us to come forward an ever stronger faith!
When Peter asked to come forward to be with Jesus; Christ our Lord said “Come!” Who could deny it?! So Peter was obedient to the call. He went believing that he could walk on water because the One who he confessed to be Lord said that he could! This was his prayer, and Jesus answered! It took courage to move out from the boat and over the water. He went forward on faith!
As long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus, all was well. But, then he became distracted; and we know how easily that can happen. We often don’t need a raging water below and a stormy sky above to lose our focus. And we see how important it is to fix and keep our focus on Jesus! Fear took the place of faith, and Peter began to sink. He cried out “Lord, save me!” (v.30). The scripture that we read today reassures us that the Lord “is generous to all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:12-13). Christ was there for Peter, as he is for us, reaching out his hand of salvation. This we should celebrate and trust in always, not only in times when we desperately need to be assured of it.
We cannot fault Peter. He was doing so well. By faith and trust and courage, he was walking on the water! But we may find that it is often true in life that we have a tendency, when things are going well, to take our focus off center and we may seem to have little need for faith. But then, when the storms of life come and we begin to sink, is it then only that we seek Christ? We should be reminded to seek Christ every day! Come forward on a faith that we pray increases and becomes stronger every day! Let Christ take you by the hand today! Let Christ be the center of your life. Fix and keep your focus on Jesus.
The Gospel lesson concludes by saying, “they got into the boat and the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him” (Matt. 14:32-33). Faith, hope, trust, courage, obedience and prayer had been restored! And they believed in their hearts and confessed with their lips that Jesus is Lord! Their great proclamation of faith being said was; “Truly you are the Son of God!” (v. 33).
We are all in the same boat. We recognize and worship the Lord our God. So doing-let us be about living the Christian life! Believing, confessing, worshipping and constantly moving toward an ever stronger faith. The scripture teaches that “the person who does these things will live by them” (Rom. 10:5).
Keep in mind these lessons of fixing the focus, with Christ the center of our lives, our focal point, our sure foundation upon whom our lives can be drawn around and made complete. Amen.
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