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Fixing Our Eyes Upon Jesus

Fixing Our Eyes Upon Jesus

The Bible directs us to:

Fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2 NIV84, emphasis mine).

This is not a rule that we are legally required to obey; it is the wisdom of God for living in harmony with His design laws, how He built reality to operate, the outworking of His methods, character, and principles into reality.

One of God’s design laws is the law of worship, the reality that we become like whatever we esteem, admire, and worship. The Bible describes the law of worship as being changed by what we behold (2 Corinthians 3:18). Modern psychology and psychiatry call the law of worship “modeling”—that is, we model ourselves after whatever we esteem, value, idealize, or, perhaps, idolize.

The Bible gives direct examples of the damage to our being when we worship anything other than God. In Jeremiah, the prophet describes the law of worship: “They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves” (2:5 NIV84). And the apostle Paul details this law in Romans 1:18–32, where he describes how certain men did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God but, instead, exchanged the truth of God for images they made of animals and humans; as a result, their minds became darkened, depraved, and futile.

The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus because it is only by beholding Him that we are won to love and trust and are transformed in heart and mind to become like Him.

The exchange of the truth about God for a lie is the most devastating and destructive way we can take our eyes off Jesus. But there is another way, a more subtle way, a way in which people keep Jesus as their only Savior, and they would deny any god other than the true God, yet they have still taken their eyes off Jesus and experienced the damaging results. Two examples in the Gospels highlight this and serve as object lessons for us today.

Perhaps the most obvious example is when Peter was walking on water. As long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was able to walk above the storming waves—but as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. Turning back to Jesus, He immediately cried out to the Savior and was rescued.

The object lesson is clear: When we find ourselves struggling with the storms of life, as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can walk over the waves. But as soon as we think we can handle it on our own, as soon as we look to our fellows and say, “Hey, check me out, I am walking on water,” we begin to sink and become overwhelmed with life. And like Peter, when we turn back to Jesus, He takes our hand and lifts us up. However, like Peter, we are now drenched in the stormy waters and will have some cleanup to do.

Another story recorded in Scripture, one that’s a little less obvious, also teaches an invaluable lesson about the increasing anxiety, worry, and fret we experience when we allow innocent life experiences to cause us to forget Jesus and take our eyes off Him.

We find this story recorded in the second chapter of Luke:

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you” (vv. 41–48, NIV84, emphasis mine).

Mary and Joseph, caught up in the duties of travel, packing, organizing, talking with friends, and trusting Jesus to follow along, took their eyes off Him. They weren’t worshiping another God; they simply allowed daily events to distract them from thinking about Him, from fixing their eyes upon Him for one day. And it took them three days of anxious searching to find Him!

So also, many of us will, at times, find ourselves busy with the duties of life, being dutiful toward our obligations, while never turning our hearts to false gods, but we forget the most important duty of all—and we innocently take our eyes off Jesus, just for a day. And then we find ourselves anxious, worried, distressed, perhaps feeling overwhelmed, and it may take us a day or two or three before we realize why we have lost our peace. Then we remember Jesus, and when we find Him, we may, like Mary, say, “Jesus, why did you let me get so anxious? Why weren’t you comforting me?”

If we are listening, we will hear His gentle voice saying, “Don’t you know I am always doing my Father’s business—seeking to heal hearts and minds and save people from sin? You are anxious only because you took your eyes off me. But I never took my eyes off you!”

Our only hope for health, happiness, peace, success, and victory is Jesus Christ! So I encourage you to make it your daily habit to fix your eyes upon Him! Start each morning in private time with Him, meditate upon His Word, open your heart to Him in prayer, surrender your entire being to Him, invite Him to direct your paths, and trust Him with how things turn out—for it is by beholding Him that we are changed!

 

 

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Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 3

My husband is a pastor and I listen to your lesson almost every week. Thank you for helping me in my study life and to help me love the “real” God more.

C. F., NC, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 74

Thank you so much for opening my eyes. I’ve been through a lot of ministries that just didn’t show the love of God that I felt he was. You have helped me to begin the process of true healing. I thought I was “too far gone,” now I know there’s hope in Jesus, because he loves us beyond what we can comprehend. Thank you again for all you do. I truly appreciate it and pray more people find you (physical at your studio and through this website).

Dalio M.

Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

Joleen H. GA, USA

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 58

I have been watching your videos in The Power of Love seminar and I must say these have liberated me and have improved my relationship with the Lord. I am no longer terrified of him as I was before following your teachings.

Thando N., South Africa

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA