Since the
birth of social media and 24-hour news organizations, we have quickly seen that
information (true or false) travels quickly. It reminds me of words from the
infamous church camp song “Pass It On” which states “It only takes a spark to
get a fire going.”
We have seen how
quickly sparks of information can set our emotions into flame with the recent
deaths of Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman. Their senseless deaths set off a
blaze of responses due to their murders being categorized as assassinations.
Sadly, this
isn’t anything new. Just hearing the word “assassination,” we think of people such
as John and Robert Kennedy, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. We
can even go back in time to notable leaders as Abraham Lincoln and Julius
Ceasar.
Yes, it is
true what Solomon remarked in Ecclesiastes
1:9, “What has been will be again, what
has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Evil
is doing what evil does. Therefore, since we (Christians) are to be light, we
are to shine!
Matthew 5:14,16, “You
are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they
may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Christians
are the "light of the world" by reflecting God's grace, love,
and truth! We must stay focused by living out and sharing our faith
authentically in all areas of life.
Stay focused
on Jesus. Stay focused on eternity. By staying focused, we don’t
take sides. By staying focused we don’t get distracted by the world’s drama. By
staying focused we remember we weren’t called to start debates and win
arguments. By staying focused we don’t jump to conclusions, speak before
listening, make unfounded claims, or be mean-spirited or hateful. We are Christ-like;
always and in everything.
Colossians 3:2, “Set
your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Our focus is Heaven and
not this world. We fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and allow our faith to
become more perfect in Him. We become more and more like Jesus in radical love.
2 Corinthians 4:18, “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.” When we stay focused, we
are keeping eternity in mind which moves us forward as “Kingdom People.”
When we keep
our focus on eternity, we have peace and assurance amidst any chaos, distraction,
and sin that this world can produce. Worldly issues, debates, and conversations
that do nothing more than stir up controversy, more hate and division have all
been defeated and mastered by Jesus. Don’t take the bait! Rise above it!
Jesus says in
John 16:33, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world.” To live in Jesus is to live in victory. Our citizenship
is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20), so stay focused on Jesus and eternity. Amen!