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Florence Chadwick waded into the water at Catalina Island, intending to swim the 22 miles to the coast of California. But the fog was so thick she could hardly see. After swimming 15 hours, she gave up—only a half mile from her goal. She later said, “If I just could have seen the land, I could’ve made it.” Like Chadwick, we often falter in exercising our faith because we cannot see our goal. That’s why the author of Hebrews urged believers to keep their eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. He says we lose focus when we let difficulties or un-confessed sins weigh us down; when we forget that discipline grows our character; and when we forget that hardship proves that we are God’s children—contrary to what health and wealth theologians propose. Here is what we read in Heb 12, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” So each day, let us take time to fix our eyes upon Jesus.
