Staying Focused, Jude 1:24-25

What you focus on grows. What you think about expands. And, what you dwell upon determines your destiny— Robin S. Sharma

Focus is the art of knowing what to ignore—James Clear

Wang Zhiming

Early in my career, I brought my annual performance evaluation to my wife for her to read. Filled with terms like "perfected programs", "this chaplain is brilliant", and "kept 22K spiritually fit," I presented it  to her with pride. As she read it, I stood by, awaiting her tears of pride and joy at my success. Seeing she was nearing the end of the document, I breathlessly prepared myself for the adulation to come. "Kraig," she said softly. "Yes?", I asked gently, expecting a fountain of adoration. And then she queried, with a  mischievous twinkle in her eyes,  "Who is this about?!"

TEMPTED BY GLORY

Adulation and adoration are THE great temptations for every leader (and follower). We begin to believe our own press and perseverate on our strengths and talents. This tunnel vision induces self-aggrandizement, causing leaders to lose focus on their values, their morals, and their ethics and, lemming-like, to follow that path off the cliff of self, destroying families , careers (General Petraeus), reputations (Ravi Zacharias), people groups (Holocaust), and societies (Khmer Rouge and Cambodia) in the process. The antithesis of this, of course, is keeping our focus on the main thing and ascribing glory and authority to that which is bigger than self.

• For military members, each service has a code of ethics, which includes service to the country.

• Medical professionals are called to a code of ethics as enshrined in the original Hippocratic Oath.

• Politicians in the United States are to focus on protecting the Constitution against all enemies "foreign and domestic," making this great experiment unique among global governments in taking the focus off of the individual in office and placing it squarely on our founding documents.

• Christian leaders, of course, are to remain focused on the person of Jesus Christ and the basic ethics of "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind … and … love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-40).

A MARTYR FOR THE FAITH

Wang Zhiming's story exemplifies one able to keep focused on the main thing, even as many of his fellow countrymen bought into the glorification of Chairman Mao and the Communist Party. A Christian pastor in China during the Cultural Revolution, Wang Zhiming was accused of made-up crimes and thrown in prison for refusing to denounce other believers or to acknowledge Chairman Mao and the Communist Party as the "Savior." He languished in prison for four years, and when his family visited him shortly before his execution, his final words to them were to "Since I cannot be changed, I am responsible for, and deserve, what I receive. But for all of you, don't follow me. Listen to what 'the above' tells you." His family understood what he meant by "the above"--stay focused on that which is greater than self; seek treasures more valuable than silver and gold and men's recognition; continue to follow Jesus Christ! As he hugged his wife for the last time, he drew a pattern of the cross on her back and sent her and the family off under the security of the Trinity (story here). The next day, he was hung by his neck until dead, and then released to family and friends.

KEEP FOCUSED

He clearly understood another Christian pastor's final admonition to his own church. Pastor Jude recognized the danger of losing focus on that which is best and ends his letter to his own flock with a reminder to stay the course . . . keep focused on that which is greater … love God and your neighbor!

Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now,  and for all eternity. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25, NET).

WHO IS WORTHY?

Jude paints a picture for his listeners of the One who is greatest, Who is above all, Who is worthy of receiving our unadulterated focus. Jude points out three reasons God is the only One worthy of this kind of worship:

• He is the Father, “the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Jude recognizes the human propensity to give up the best and to focus on what is only good. C.S. Lewis describes this tendency perfectly when he writes, "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

• He keeps us from falling. What does Jude mean by this? Will God keep me from stumbling? Will I not need crutches or a cane or a walker because I'm a Christian? When the Scriptures speak of falling, they speak of falling into temptation (1 Timothy 6:9), falling short of the God's glory (Romans 3:23-24), stumbling in our calling (2 Peter 1:10-11), or falling out of faith (Hebrews 3:12-13). Keeping that focus on God keeps us from falling into the manipulation traps set by those who are false in nature.

• He keeps us on our feet! God does not only keep us from falling. We could do that on our own by simply lying down! No, Jude reminds us that God does something more active. He keeps us standing, without blemish, in the presence of God Himself, and while rejoicing. Imagine coming into God's presence, having to admit to Him that you fell for the con of false teachers. Imagine confessing to God that you gave up His glory for the manmade glorification of a human being. Imagine telling God that you believed the brash, bombastic words of a person who, in effect, put himself above God's glory. Imagine saying, "God, I thought I found something better than You!" Ooooof . . . . Only God can keep us standing, rejoicing, and without blemish.

CONCLUSION

When Pastor Wang's sons received his body, they reported a serene look on his face. It seems that he comprehended the reasons for Jude's final exclamation--all glory, majesty, power, and authority in the past, the present, and the future belong to God Himself! Any person who claims these for himself or herself is false, for that person cannot even come close to giving us salvation, keeping us from falling, or presenting us unblemished in God's presence. Jude understood this; Wang Zhiming understood this; martyrs throughout the centuries understood this. Christian leader, do YOU understand this as well, or are you too busy reading your own press and losing focus?

REFLECTION

1. Who is your idol? Why?

2. Is your worth and value tied to a person, or something higher?

3. Who or what keeps you humble?

4. Who or what keeps you proud?

5. Where do you find your focus to be?