Sunday August 18, 2019
DIY…Fixing 101
We are a nation of fixers. We have handbooks and television shows on how to fix-it-at-home in our houses. We have self-help books on fixing our own problems. We have famous psychologists spouting advice on how to fix relationships. (See Word WISDOM for a deeper study of house)
But God has a do-it-yourself, self-help, fix-it solution…fixing ourselves on Him.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb.12:1-2)
The word fix means “to turn away from other things” and “attentively gaze on something.” In other words, we are to turn our eyes away from distractions, trials, and temptations, and focus on the Fixer and Repairer of all things. Seems like an easy fix, right?! Not always.
So many of us are trying to handle things on our own, when all God really wants is for us to trust him. God made us in HIS image, for HIS purpose, and for the destiny that HE has paved for us. We are so accustomed to trying to fix ourselves. And when we do that, our focus shifts from the fixer of our problem, Jesus, to the problem itself. Our attentions are drawn away from the One who has the “fix.”
We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jesus is our perfect example of faith. If we persevere with our faith until the end, we will be exalted with Him. He is not just the creator of our faith, He is the finisher and perfecter of that work (Phil.1:6)
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Rev.3:21)
We are also told to fix our hope on grace (1 Pet.1:13). How? By preparing our minds to focus on Him. Our hope rests wholly in the grace of the Lord. That grace is available through the shed blood of the Lamb (Titus 2:11). Grace is His lovingkindness extended through blessings, forgiveness, and restoration. We are literally commanded to fix our hope on the Living God (1 Tim.4:10)…not a dead idol, but an active God who holds all life. He is an exceedingly great God, supreme in all things and He is alive!
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest (fix) your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet.1:13)
We are very affected by what we see. We usually do the opposite of what Paul says here – we fix our eyes on what is seen, and not on what is unseen. I don’t think many of us will think about heaven, unless we are about to die. It’s too far from us. When we fix our eyes on our circumstances, they will always, always seem too heavy to bear. But when we focus on our Lord and eternal life with Him, we realize these “momentary troubles” are only temporary.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor.4:18)
When we fully embrace this perspective it will make our troubles seem very light and momentary. But if we fail to do so the trials of life will rob us of the wellspring of joy that Jesus gives to each believer to help us endure and overcome. To keep the eternal perspective we must remember to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer” (Rom.12:12)
The greatest self-help book ever written is the Bible. The Father sent the Word. The Holy Spirit inspires the Word. Jesus became the Word. What other help could we possibly need? This is Fixing 101. Amen.