Focus. Faith. (122825)

Text: Hebrews 12:1-2

Hebrews 12:1–2 KJV 1900

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Focus / Faith

Focus: a central point; the point of concentration

Point of Concentration

Google says this:

In mindfulness and cognitive training, a point of concentration is a specific object, sensation, or thought used to anchor the mind and prevent it from wandering.

Over this past year, what has your mind been anchored upon?

To give us some understanding of what people’s minds have been anchored upon this past year…According to one source the…

Top trending US searches of 2025 were…

Charlie Kirk

“KPop Demon Hunters”

Labubu

iPhone 17

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Zohran Mamdani

DeepSeek

Government shutdown

FIFA Club World Cup

Tariffs

As Christians, why do we need an anchor for our minds? Because our minds can so easily wander!

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

James 1:8 KJV 1900

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

But…

Joshua 1:8 KJV 1900

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Isaiah 26:3 KJV 1900

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.

It seems clear from these and other verses that our minds need to be anchored upon God and God’s Word. So…

How have you done this past year at keeping your mind anchored? How have you done this past year at keeping your mind from wandering?

Faith: Belief;

the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence;

The Bible is the declaration of God’s Word to us.

Do we acknowledge that it is true?

Jesus said…

John 17:17 KJV 1900

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Are we resting our lives on its authority? on its truthfulness?

Jesus said…

Matthew 7:24 KJV 1900

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Are we doing all of this without any need of evidence?

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses...

Hebrews chapter 11, the great Hall of Faith, is filled with individuals whose lives, although not perfect, exemplified a life of focus.

In Hebrews chapter 11, it is said of Abraham’s focus…

Hebrews 11:10 KJV 1900

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews chapter 11, the great Hall of Faith, is filled with individuals whose lives, although not perfect, exemplified a life of faith.

One of the individuals, in Hebrews chapter 11, that exemplifies this truth is Noah…

Hebrews 11:7 KJV 1900

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah, Abraham, and the other individuals in Hebrews chapter 11 are those who have gone on before us.

That “so great a cloud of witnesses,” for us, has grown this past year.

David Hale

Joe White

Ms. Dianne White’s mother

Rebecca Brooks

And we have remembrances of each of these individuals; we “remember” them for various things.

When it comes to each of us - when the time comes for us to join that “so great a cloud of witness”

What will others remember about our focus? about our faith?

What will our children remember about our focus? about our faith?

What will our co-workers remember about our focus? about our faith?

What will those in our church remember about our focus? about our faith?

If it is anything less than what we would like, this next part of Hebrews 12:1, is for us…

…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

As we come to the end of the year and prepare for the new year, it is a wonderful time for us to reevaluate our focus; to reevaluate our faith.

Then, we come, once again, to Hebrews 12:2

Hebrews 12:2 KJV 1900

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Charles Spurgeon wrote this:

Hebrews Exposition

The Greek word for “looking” is a much fuller word than we can find in the English language. It has a preposition in it that turns the look away from everything else. You are to look from all else to Jesus. Do not fix your gaze on the cloud of witnesses; they will hinder you if they take away your eye from Jesus. Do not look at the weights and the besetting sin—these you have laid aside; look away from them. Do not even look at the racecourse, or the competitors, but look to Jesus and so start in the race.

We are to look away from everything else and fix our focus upon Jesus Christ.

That is quite a challenge for us to consider at the end of the year as we get ready to go into the next.