"WHICH WAY ARE YOU LOOKING?"

July 30   “Which Way Are You Looking?”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Satan is excited when God’s people are looking at anything that keeps their focus off of HIM.  How we LOOK, that is, which direction that we are looking is absolutely important to our Christian walk!  This morning, I want to concentrate on three LOOKS that are found in the New Testament.  The first is a “BACKWARD LOOK TO CALVARY!”  In John 1:29, it says, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world!”  When we LOOK to Calvary and we see the “selfless act of Love and Atonement, provided by Jesus Christ and recognize our need for Salvation; then we are LOOKING the right way.  Remember, CHRIST saves us by doing FOR us and IN our stead what we CANNOT do for ourselves.  HE satisfies the demands of God’s broken law on our behalf; HE paid ALL our debt!  The second LOOK is the UPWARD LOOK TO THE THRONE OF GOD!  Hebrews 12:2 says clearly, “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.”  Our RISEN Lord is our HIGH PRIEST at the right hand of GOD.  HE gives constant VICTORY to those who “seek those things which are above, where CHRIST sitteth on the right hand of GOD.” (Colossians 3:1)  The third look is FORWARD LOOK TO HIS COMING AGAIN!  Titus 2:12 says, “LOOKING for that BLESSED HOPE, and the GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE Great GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.”  Believers, by ever and continually, LOOKING FORWARD to HIS return, we try to live as we would like to be found living, when HE actually comes, and we seek to win others, so as to hasten the completion of the mystical and Holy BODY OF CHRIST, those that have accepted HIS GRACE and RIGHTEOUS ACT AT CALVARY; and we are absolutely assured that all our service may be obedient and enduring.  So, I ask you today, where are you LOOKING?  Are you LOOKING DOWNWARD at the Evil and Chaos and Depravity of our present world?  I pray that you have taken that FIRST LOOK of Faith toward the LAMB!  Without the LAMB OF GOD, you can expect nothing from the THRONE OF GOD and you are “WITHOUT HOPE” in this lost, dying and depraved world.  I truly believe that HIS RETURN is coming soon and I want to be LOOKING UP to see that AMAZING EVENT and be a part of the action of being “CAUGHT UP TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR!”  I pray that you will join the WATCH PARTY of Believers and live your life so that others will see Jesus in you and to share HIS GOOD NEWS with everyone that you encounter!   Let us commit, right now, this moment, to pray more, study the Word more, to share the Good News more and to be the person that God requires!  Evil abounds, yet, we can confront this “Pandemic of Evil” one soul at a time!!!  What God does with you, depends upon what you do!  It Always has; It Always will!! Be sure, be productive and continue to share the Love of God with others!   Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember, THE BEST IS YET TO BE!