My brother and his wife and new baby live in Fort McMurray Alberta. They just moved there last summer as my brother, Rob, took a counselling job there. They found a little condo to rent while they looked for a place to live. If you know anything about that town, you know that the cost of living there, with house prices and even rent, is quite unreasonable. A week ago Friday, they received a knock on the door telling them to get out of the building within a few hours. Not knowing any details, they quickly packed, found a hotel and moved out for the night. They soon learned that the building
they were in was built shoddy and a new engineering report showed some recent failure of structural components, meaning the building could shift at any moment, rupturing gas lines and causing potential fires and explosions. They also learned that they may never be let back into their home! After a few days, they were told they would at least get a 15 minute window to get in, get as much as they could and then get out. To make matters worse, tenants could only go in one household at a time, and out of the 300 or so people in the building, Rob and Amanda drew last place! If that wasn’t bad enough, though, they were also informed that if a tenant took more than 15 minutes, that would take away from the next tenant’s 15 minutes and so on down the line. In other words, the chances that there would be any time available at all once Rob and Amanda’s time slot came were very slim.
they were in was built shoddy and a new engineering report showed some recent failure of structural components, meaning the building could shift at any moment, rupturing gas lines and causing potential fires and explosions. They also learned that they may never be let back into their home! After a few days, they were told they would at least get a 15 minute window to get in, get as much as they could and then get out. To make matters worse, tenants could only go in one household at a time, and out of the 300 or so people in the building, Rob and Amanda drew last place! If that wasn’t bad enough, though, they were also informed that if a tenant took more than 15 minutes, that would take away from the next tenant’s 15 minutes and so on down the line. In other words, the chances that there would be any time available at all once Rob and Amanda’s time slot came were very slim.
Suddenly, because of one company’s drive to make an easy buck by cutting corners, Rob and Amanda, along with a few hundred others had suddenly not only lost their homes, but everything they owned! They had nothing but the clothes on their backs, and a few belongings they had packed quickly that fateful night. Things looked very bleak. Photo albums, family heirlooms, irreplaceable items were all at the brink of being destroyed along with the poorly constructed building.
I would imagine that we can all relate to this experience at least on some level. While they are all only “things”, most are “things” that have grown near and dear to our hearts. Some are items we received as gifts, souvenirs from travels, etc. Sure, insurance will replace the TV’s, most of the
furniture. But we all know it wouldn’t be the same. Who among us hasn’t experienced some sort of life changing situation? It may have been a personal tragedy, a loss of someone, or something, a pet even. Many of us can relate, if even a little, to a feeling of hopelessness, to have our life be turned “upside down”. During that time, what did you do? Where did you turn?
furniture. But we all know it wouldn’t be the same. Who among us hasn’t experienced some sort of life changing situation? It may have been a personal tragedy, a loss of someone, or something, a pet even. Many of us can relate, if even a little, to a feeling of hopelessness, to have our life be turned “upside down”. During that time, what did you do? Where did you turn?
This morning I want to talk about our focus. Where is your focus? Who is your focus, or better yet, what is your focus? There are two areas I want to discuss this morning where our focus comes into question. The first is during victory. The second is during tragedy and hardships.
Focus During Victory
How many of you have watched an award ceremony? Think back to the last time you watched the Oscars, or the Juno Awards. Or maybe the end of a championship game, even the Stanley cup. What do the victor’s all seem to have in common? The ‘thank you’ speeches. It’s the same thing every time, no matter what the occasion. I want to thank my producer... fans... family... even God. I can’t think of a single time a victor has said something to the effect of “I deserve this award, I worked the hardest and I was the most skilled and it only made sense that I got the award anyways.” No, while that attitude may be present, everyone understands that at a time like this, due diligence must
be done to ensure those who helped are thanked and appreciated. The victor’s focus is often directed towards others. Often, I think their focus is inward, as the thank-you speeches are often seemingly forced, well rehearsed, and just downright boring. I also wonder after the ceremony, what happens then? Does the victor’s focus suddenly shift from the “high” they experienced while receiving the award, to a sudden selfish and inward focus? Do they wake up the next morning feeling fulfilled, or feeling the same as the day before? In life’s victories, or more importantly, after life’s
victories, where is your focus? Is it on yourself? Is it on those who helped you achieved the victory? Is it on God?
be done to ensure those who helped are thanked and appreciated. The victor’s focus is often directed towards others. Often, I think their focus is inward, as the thank-you speeches are often seemingly forced, well rehearsed, and just downright boring. I also wonder after the ceremony, what happens then? Does the victor’s focus suddenly shift from the “high” they experienced while receiving the award, to a sudden selfish and inward focus? Do they wake up the next morning feeling fulfilled, or feeling the same as the day before? In life’s victories, or more importantly, after life’s
victories, where is your focus? Is it on yourself? Is it on those who helped you achieved the victory? Is it on God?
In I Kings, we have a perfect example of a man of God with amazing “God-focus” seeing a great victory, but then shortly afterwards immediately losing that focus. Let’s read 1 Kings, chapter 18, verses 20 to 40. God showed himself in a miraculous way, Elijah had a great victory! He must’ve been pumped! Let’s keep reading. (I Kings 19:1-5) What happened here? Where did the Elijah go that we read about in chapter 18? Seize the prophets of Baal! Don’t let anyone get away! He was on fire. And now in the next chapter, he suddenly wants to die. What changed? God didn’t change. Ahab and Jezebel didn’t change, other than the fact that they were obviously more upset with Elijah than usual. But something changed with Elijah himself. His focus changed. His life was threatened, and he
was on the run, he was on his own and his focus shifted from being on God to now being on himself. All he could see was his immediate situation. He was tired, hungry. God lets him rest, even provides sustenance for him, and after a few days He asks Elijah what was wrong. In chapter 19, verse 10, Elijah answers “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
was on the run, he was on his own and his focus shifted from being on God to now being on himself. All he could see was his immediate situation. He was tired, hungry. God lets him rest, even provides sustenance for him, and after a few days He asks Elijah what was wrong. In chapter 19, verse 10, Elijah answers “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Where is his focus? I have been zealous... I am left... they are trying to kill me. Elijah’s focus is inward. On himself. And God recognizes that he needs a ‘focus-lift’. God doesn’t berate him, instead, he reveals himself to him. Let’s read further in chapter 19 (I Kings 19:11-18). God reveals himself to Elijah and helps him to refocus. He gives Elijah mission for success and also informs him that there are 7000 more believers out there and that Elijah isn’t alone. God helps Elijah refocus.
How many times have your greatest victories been followed with a similar focus failure? After victory, it is so easy for us to lose our focus and start to look inward. And yet it is after our victories that we need to retain our God-focus more than ever. After the high, inevitably comes the crash. After a spiritual victory, God expects us to continue our journey rather than sit back and rest on what we may see as our own accomplishments. He had Elijah follow up his Mt. Carmel victory by anointing others to further his work. However, often as humans we tend to try and follow up victories with rest
and relaxation. We try to “rest on our laurels” as the saying goes. If you look that saying up online, one of the definitions is to “to be so satisfied with your own achievements that you make no effort to improve.”
and relaxation. We try to “rest on our laurels” as the saying goes. If you look that saying up online, one of the definitions is to “to be so satisfied with your own achievements that you make no effort to improve.”
Turning our focus inward can only lead to a spiritual ‘crash’. Ultimately, we are all aiming for a much greater prize, a much larger victory. We need to continue keeping our focus on the bigger prize, on God. Enjoy the victories that God brings, but never relax in them. Never sit back on them. Keep pushing forward. As long as we have breath in these lungs, our work here is not done!
Focus During Tragedy
Another common area in our lives where we tend to lose focus is during tragedy or hardships. Something comes into our life that causes us to stop looking upwards, and, once again, start focusing inwards.
Jesus’ disciples experienced this after Jesus was crucified. Three days after Jesus was crucified and buried, the disciples were huddled together, behind locked doors, in fear for their life and saddened about the week’s events. Where was their focus? Inward. On themselves. They were focused on how they were feeling, and about the tragedy that had turned their lives upside down.
Another example of this inward focus after hardship can be found in the writings of David. He was banished. His king had a death warrant out for him, his wife couldn’t be trusted and his best friend couldn’t help him. David had nowhere to turn, and was found hiding in a cave, focusing on himself and his troubles. Just a short while before, he’d been happily tending his sheep. Now his life was threatened at every turn and he was a castaway in the desert. In fact, David’s focus turns inward enough to where he resorts to lies and deceit in order to get bread and a sword from the priest Ahimelech at Nob. He also fled to his enemy city where he has to pretend to be crazy just to get out alive. David was desperate and at the end of his rope. The key there being that it was his rope, not
God’s.
God’s.
How did God restore focus to his disciples? How did he turn David’s focus upwards? In both cases, God returns his people to a higher calling. With the disciples, Jesus returns to them, and gives them a mission, a directive, to preach the gospel. He also gives them the Holy Spirit. With David, God brings along family and friends to console him and strengthen him. Eventually, others from all over start coming to David for help. People who were discontent, or in distress, began flocking to David because they trusted in his valour and wisdom. Now David had a mission again. He had a purpose, a
higher calling greater than himself. God lifted David’s focus off of himself and turned it upwards. David began commanding these men and in fact formed a small outlaw band and began fighting for those who were persecuted, protected those in need of protection. David started to become the man God wanted him to be, the man who would one day become Israel’s greatest King.
higher calling greater than himself. God lifted David’s focus off of himself and turned it upwards. David began commanding these men and in fact formed a small outlaw band and began fighting for those who were persecuted, protected those in need of protection. David started to become the man God wanted him to be, the man who would one day become Israel’s greatest King.
God wants our focus to be upward, not inward. He wants our eyes to be on Him, on the greatest prize, instead of ourselves and our situations. God knows that as soon as we look down at ourselves, or at our own situation, we start to crumble. Like the apostle Peter so vividly experienced as he stepped out of his boat, focused on Jesus, and began walking across the water! But as soon as he looked down, and shifted his focus to his own two feet and the water beneath them and suddenly he began to sink. We are no different, except for the fact that many of us never even step out of the boat in the first place!
I want to return to the story of my brother and his wife in Fort McMurray. Here are some of the Facebook posts from them during this time.
Amanda, a week ago Saturday: ...is
feeling very misplaced and confused.
feeling very misplaced and confused.
Amanda, Tuesday: ...completely
leaning on God right now ‘cause I have no strength left. How did my life turn
so upside down? I am so thankful for Rob and Sam.
leaning on God right now ‘cause I have no strength left. How did my life turn
so upside down? I am so thankful for Rob and Sam.
Rob, Tuesday: ...Well we get
access to our condo on Friday, 8:00pm, for 15 minutes. Anything left will be
part of the insurance claim that at this point looks like it will be denied,
find out more about that in the am. So, we're thankful for 15 minutes.
access to our condo on Friday, 8:00pm, for 15 minutes. Anything left will be
part of the insurance claim that at this point looks like it will be denied,
find out more about that in the am. So, we're thankful for 15 minutes.
Amanda, Friday: ...believes a
miracle will happen at 8pm tonight. I can feel the love and prayer! It feels
overwhelmingly awesome! We are going to have steady, grippy, fast hands;
amazingly strong arms & backs; very fast, secure feet; sharp eyes; and
calm, logical heads.
miracle will happen at 8pm tonight. I can feel the love and prayer! It feels
overwhelmingly awesome! We are going to have steady, grippy, fast hands;
amazingly strong arms & backs; very fast, secure feet; sharp eyes; and
calm, logical heads.
I wanted to bring their situation up here to show their focus. When things were bleak and looking bleaker, their focus was continuously upwards. Amanda, “completely leaning on God” and “I am so thankful for Rob and Sam”. Rob says “we’re thankful for 15 minutes”. Instead of “why is this happening to us?” or “I can’t believe we only get 15 minutes”, there was a sense of gratefulness. Amanda found their son Sam’s baby book that had somehow managed to find its way into their stuff when they left that Friday night. She was understandably so thankful to have brought it, even if it was by accident. Rob mentioned at one point that he thought it would be a good idea to hang around the condo while others were packing their stuff to see if they could help. Their focus was always upward, and never inward.
A while ago, I had Corrie paint the words “Holy is the Lord” on my bike’s handlebars, which I ride every day to work. The goal was to keep my focus upward. God is Holy, no matter what my situation. God is holy, no matter what happens to those around me. God is holy. How many of you have tried
to contemplate eternity? It is an unfathomable thought for our human minds to comprehend. And yet, from what we read in the Word, we will be spending eternity praising God and his holiness. God is holy! No matter what is going on, He never changes. His holiness is no less today in sorrow than it was yesterday in victory.
to contemplate eternity? It is an unfathomable thought for our human minds to comprehend. And yet, from what we read in the Word, we will be spending eternity praising God and his holiness. God is holy! No matter what is going on, He never changes. His holiness is no less today in sorrow than it was yesterday in victory.
Do you have financial problems that seem insurmountable?
Holy is the Lord.
Is your relationship with your spouse is on the rocks, and
seem irreparable?
seem irreparable?
Holy is the Lord.
Are you sick and are asking for healing?
Holy is the Lord.
Are you hurting?
Holy is the Lord.
I’m not saying that these issues shouldn’t be brought to our Saviour’s feet. Quite the contrary. We should immediately bring these to His feet. We probably need to lay these issues at His feet daily! But then, we must acknowledge who God is. Holy is the Lord! Regardless of what I’m going through right now, holy is the Lord! When we are done with our time here on this earth, when all withers away and “dissolves as snow”, one thing will remain. God! Holy is the Lord!
Rob and Amanda demonstrated to all those around them that their focus was upward during their time of uncertainty. They kept reminding themselves that it was only “stuff” and that many don’t get the 15 minute window opportunity. Friday night came, and many family, friends and even co-workers came to help.
Rob said “(Amanda’s Mom) was pretty amazing in the kitchen, she can move like a little tornado. She got the whole kitchen packed in boxes and even plastic bags, which now we have to go organize but at least we have access to it. (Amanda’s Dad) got my whole library in...two bins by himself, one of our helpers who wasn't supposed to be inside (he was the 5th of the allowed 4) got out a bunch of big stuff, the young guy that my coworker brought was indispensible, and our little army outside got it all in the trailer, the trucks and all over the tarps :) It was a pretty fun, bonding experience actually. (Another couple) organized all the random stuff, and (yet another couple) packed and sorted and grabbed stuff coming out the windows. It was pretty awesome.”
In the end, and I’m assuming that this was because they were last, but those in charge of the situation ended up giving Rob and Amanda an entire 50 minutes, instead of the originally allotted 15! The group was able to clear out the entire apartment minus their couch, bed and a bookshelf. But
other than that, they got EVERYTHING out!
other than that, they got EVERYTHING out!
Here is the post from Amanda after the fact: “I got my miracle!!!! All that's left is the couch, loveseat, a bookshelf and bed. Plus we may be able to get the rest in a couple weeks. :) Our 15 minutes turned into about 1 hour!”
Holy is the Lord! When life gets turned “upside down”, and you are given 15 minutes to get what you can and get out, where will your focus be? What will your attitude be? Will you be inward focused, selfishly wondering “why me?” Or will you be upward focused, thankful and praising God that He is the same yesterday, today and forever?
