Keep Looking Straight Ahead
A few weeks ago my four-year-old daughter was obsessed with learning to ride a bike without training wheels. I was tired so I suggested a less demanding activity, ideally one that didn’t need me to bend at an awkward angle for long periods of time. But my daughter was persistent that now was the right time for her to learn. My own lethargy wasn’t a good enough reason to hold my daughter back. So on a sunny spring afternoon she put on her pink helmet and hopped on her hand-me-down Minnie Mouse bike.
She was so excited to ride a big girl bike. I awkwardly arched my back and started running behind her with my hand on the seat. I gave a few simple tips: Keep pedaling, sweetie! Look straight ahead!
We got to the end of the road. We did this a few times. I held on, and I repeated my expert advice over and over.
As my daughter became more comfortable, she began to get distracted with where she was looking. She started looking to the sides, gazing behind her to see if Mom was still watching, or looking at her feet pushing the pedals. Whenever she got distracted and looked in a different direction, she began to wobble. Eventually, the only advice I found myself repeating was: Look straight ahead, sweetie!
Before each attempt I would ask her two questions, the first one: Will you look to the side, or at your hands, or at your feet? She would respond with a smile: No. Then I would ask: Will you look straight ahead? She would respond again with a smile: Yes.
Looking to Jesus
She eventually got the hang of it. She knew she had to keep pedaling to stay moving, and she knew she had to look straight ahead to stay balanced. Where she fixed her eyes made all the difference.
This sunny spring afternoon provided a helpful image for the daily life of a disciple of Jesus. Christianity is not merely about mentally affirming certain ideas and events. True Christianity also necessitates the decision to continually trust and walk in light of the reality that Jesus is not only the one who saves us, but also the one we must daily follow. Hebrews was written to a group of early Christians who were being tempted to stop trusting Jesus. The author of Hebrews wrote:
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1b–2)
The path of discipleship before each of us can only be traveled safely if we continually look to Jesus. He is our everything. He is our salvation. He is our hope. He is our joy. He is our rescuer. He is our protector. He is our shepherd. He is our model and example for what it looks like to love God and others. If we don’t continually look to Jesus, we will begin to wobble and not just fall down but fall away altogether.
Becoming by Beholding
As we think about our daily call to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we need to remind ourselves once more that the goal of the Christian life is not merely subscribing to a certain set of beliefs. Though it’s true that what we think is vital for the Christian life, the goal of the Christian life is that we are increasingly conformed to the likeness of Jesus.
The good news for simple people like me is that a vital means for our conformation to Jesus is the same thing we just read in Hebrews 12. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18).
Paul makes it clear that a key part of our transformation—of our becoming like Jesus—is our beholding the glory of the Lord. Continually and consistently looking to Jesus in all situations and seasons is what will help us be the people who do not just hear and think truth but who tangibly align our moments and our days with the truth we believe.
Where Are You Looking?
My daughter is still in the early days of riding a bike. When we go for walks as a whole family, she will often want to strap on her pink helmet and hop on the Minnie Mouse bike. But because she is in the early days, she needs to remember the basics. And when she begins to wobble, I call out a few feet behind her: Keep looking straight!
The journey toward Christian maturity involves a constant reminder of the basics. So, where are we looking these days?
Do you look to the sides and binge-read one social media post after another? Do you look behind to focus on what people around you are saying is good and true and beautiful? Do you look down at your feet and focus on what is best in your own estimation? Or are you fixing your eyes straight ahead—on Jesus?
Greg Harris lives east of Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife and children. He has worked in pastoral ministry for over a decade, and loves engaging in discussions with his church family about the Bible, theology, and spiritual formation. He is an infrequent tweeter, but you can find him on Twitter at @GregoryGHarris.