Keeping My Eyes up As I Walk

One of the most natural things do, yet one the most unsafe, is to look down as you walk. I recall the words of one of my college professors when he told our class that we needed to look ahead as we walk. If we look down all we will see is the occasional lost coin; if we look up, there are lots of pretty girls to see. That was his idea, not necessarily mine. Now, I found a pretty girl years ago and she was/is a keeper. But, I was thinking about the application of keeping my eyes up while walking through life. As I continue my work in Colossians, one of the keys of chapter 2 is the need to be rooted in Christ; then, as Paul transitions into chapter 3, he says to set our affection on things above. If I am walking in the woods or through a swamp, I need to look down to ensure good, solid footing. However, as I walk through life I have the confidence of walking on the solid ground of the Biblical teaching. Footing is not the problem. David said that God took him out of the miry clay and set his feet upon a rock. Jesus told of the one who built his house upon a rock and saw it withstand the storms of life. No, the footing isn't the problem. In my life, often it is the focus that is the problem.

As we go through our days, we face a great variety of difficult situations. How we deal with them is determined by our focus on our God. Colossians two and three both deal with focus. Chapter two instructs us to keep our attention on Jesus, even as we avoid the influences of this world. Those influences take the form of enticing words, philosophy, vain deceit, tradition, and basic principles of the world. We need to keep focus on God and live as if we are dead to the influences of the world.

Colossians three takes a slight change of direction as Paul instructs us to seek the elements that are from God. We need to set our minds on the heavenly things and put to death the "qualities" of this world. If we truly love God and have our focus on Him, we will set aside the characteristics of this ungodly world and take upon ourselves the qualities that make us Christlike: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance,  forgiveness, and love. Paul then exhorts us to allow the scripture to dwell within us and for us to do all in the name of our God.

The conclusion of chapter three deals with personal relationships: spousal, parental, occupational, and spiritual. All that we do in each relational area should reflect well on our God and should show that we are clothed in the attire of Christ-likeness as seen in verses 12-14. These things can only happen when we get our eyes off the ground and the things that try to trip us and get our focus on God and His all-sufficient provision for our many needs.

Close to Where It Started

Back in 1984, I began working for A Beka Books as a college student. Throughout that school year and the next, I packed books into boxes to prepare them for shipping. From 1992-2009, I ordered boatloads of books and received them via shippers. Now here I am in 2010, working for a shipper. I recently began working at a national shipper loading packages into airline containers for shipment. Loads of fun indeed, but it is truly a blessing from God. As I wait for the Lord's direction and plan come fruition, this will allow us to continue along our present course. Come fall, I expect to be employed full-time at school, but God is using this job to help meet the needs and pay the bills of the family. Truly He is wonderful.

Since I moved in August, I have been waiting to learn what God had in store for us next. It seems as if I finally know what that next step is. It also seems that the way is being prepared even before I am aware of the need. What a surprise -- God works ahead of my feeble, human vision.

We have been so richly blessed by God over the last few months, or more accurately, many years. I have been able to do all that I have wanted to do, from coaching, working with kids, teaching, and administrating. Now it seems as if God is opening many of those doors again. While I will not need to do all that I had grown accustomed to doing, God is slowly preparing opportunities to minister and serve in the areas that I most enjoy. In the mean time, I pack shipping containers. God has once again shown Himself to be sovereign, working steps ahead of what we can see or envision.