Sequoia National Park in California

Distracted

Mark Roberts once shared a phenomenon that he witnessed while on a trip with
his family:

Years ago, my family and I visited Sequoia National Park in California. The
highlight of this trip was seeing the Giant Sequoia redwoods, after which
the park is named. These trees are awe-inspiring, both for their beauty and
their size. The largest redwood in the national park is the General Sherman
tree, which towers above the forest at 275 feet in height. It is also 25
feet in diameter, with an estimated age over 2500 years.

As my family and I ambled among the giant redwoods, drinking in their
exceptional elegance, I noticed a teenaged boy walking along with his
family. His eyes were transfixed, not by the trees, but rather by his Game
Boy device. (Today, it would be his smartphone.) He was engaged in some
sort of video game that demanded his full attention.

I was both fascinated and distressed by this boy's apparent unawareness of
the extraordinary beauty all around him, so I continued to look his way
every now and then throughout our tour of the big trees. Sure enough, as
near as I could tell, he never once lifted his eyes to gaze upon some of the
most beautiful and astounding of God's creations. *

T.S. Eliot was correct when he stated that we are a people "distracted by
distraction." Distractions can cause us to miss out on beautiful scenes and
important matters. Distraction can also lead to tragedy - just ask those
who have been involved in car accidents because they were looking at their
phones.

There are many things in the world that can distract us from those things
that are beautiful and important. Just watch the news. Big things, little
things. Global impacts, local events. Myriad are the things which can
capture our attention.

In a world full of distractions, God calls us to look to and follow His Son:
"Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding
us, let's rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily
entangles us, and let's run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for
the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB).

There are many things - even many important things - upon which we can focus
our attention today. But there should be one main focus: Jesus. Why?
Because only Jesus provides the abundant life now and eternal life to come
(John 3:16; 10:10).

God will save and give eternal life to those who focus on Jesus by placing
their faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from their sins in
repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and
by being baptized (immersed) into Him for the forgiveness of sins (Acts
2:38). Then, those that continue to focus on Jesus by following His Word
are continually cleansed from sin by His blood (1 John 1:7-9).

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory
and grace
-- Helen H. Lemmel

Don't get distracted. Fix your eyes on Jesus and follow Him. You will be
blessed eternally.

-- David A. Sargent

* From Mark D. Roberts, Life for Leaders, a Devotional Resource of the
DePree Leadership Center at Fuller Theological Seminary as quoted in
www.thepastorsworkshop.com, in sermon illustrations on "distract