Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus

"Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Prov. 4:25-27). To keep our eyes fixed on God is to be consistent in our prayer life, Bible studies, meditation, witnessing and fellowshipping with the people of God. Our Saviour while on earth never ceased from praying and actually encouraged us to do the same. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is the extent to which prayer must be a part of our lives.

"Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of Life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor" (To Be Like Jesus, page 33). From Ephesians 6:18, we are admonished by the apostle Paul to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Great people of God in the Bible persevered in their appointed times and non-appointed times of prayer. They never got out of communication with the Throne of Grace. They constantly had a sense of dependence on God. Beloved, you should not imitate men. Study your Bibles, and imitate Christ. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

It was through the study of Scripture that our Lord defeated Satan in the wilderness of temptation (Matthew 4:1-11). It is through the study of Scripture that we can also overcome and defeat Satan. "A book has been given us to guide our feet through the perils of this dark world to heaven. It tells us how we can escape the wrath of God, and also tells of the sufferings of Christ for us, the great sacrifice that has been made that we might be saved and enjoy the presence of God forever. And if any come short at last, having heard the truth as they have in this land of light, it will be their own fault; they will be without excuse. The word of God tells us how we may become perfect Christians and escape the seven last plagues. But they took no interest to find this out. Other things diverted the mind, idols were cherished by them, and God's Holy Word was neglected and slighted. God has been trifled with by professed Christians, and when His Holy Word shall judge them in the last day, they will be found wanting. That word which they have neglected for foolish storybooks, tries their lives. That is the standard; their motives, words, works, and the manner in which they use their time are all compared with the written word of God; and if they come short then, their cases are decided forever" {1T 125.3}.

Beside Bible studies and prayers, we must also endeavour to meditate or reflect upon the Word of God; we must be zealous in sharing the faith we have in Christ with others; and we must never forget the assembling of ourselves together. If we do these things we will be gradually reflecting the image of the perfect Son of God. Many measure themselves among themselves, and compare their lives with people whose lives are filled with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). This should not be. No one but Christ is given us as an example. He is our true Pattern, and each one of us should strive to excel in imitating Him.

Beloved, through our actions, we are either co-workers with Christ, or co-workers with the enemy. We either gather with Christ or scatter abroad. We are decided, wholehearted Christians, or none at all. Christ expressly stated: "I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth." It is high time we "keep the eyes fixed on Jesus, inquiring at every step, is this the way of the Lord? The Lord will not leave anyone who does this, to become the sport of Satan's temptation …" {OHC 341.4}.

Gifty Achiaa Fosuaah