Get Your
Blinders On
“Keep your eyes on Jesus,
who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He
never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with
God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And
now He’s there, in the
place of honor, right alongside God.
When you find yourselves flagging in your
faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He
plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
(Heb. 12:2-3 The Message)
The big game just finished. Not as great
as we expected. In fact, it was a letdown for many.
On other past occasions, we have
experienced days we so looked forward to, which then came and went. It turned
out not being the big deal we had so longed for. We think, oh well, we’ll start
looking to the next one, which will be better of course.
We have expectancies. We have
fulfillments. We have disappointments. They come and they go. Personally, I get
weary of some of them. But then I am reminded of Him.
Back in the day, yes, even before my time,
farmers used to plow their fields with the one horse powered implement. Or if
they were on the more affordable side of profits, they had even two or three
horse power pulling. Literally. Before tractors manufactured by John Deere and
Harvester International were invented, horses and mules were it. And these
powerful animals wore blinders. Even
today you will see horses with these things on their head called blinders. Why?
In one article, it reads, “Horse blinders are firm leather squares
or plastic cups that attach to a horse's bridle or hood and prevent a horse
from seeing behind and beside him. Horses that pull wagons and carriages wear
blinkers to prevent them from becoming distracted or panicked by what they see
behind the wagon.
In fact, horses can see a nearly full
circle around themselves except for a small blind spot in front of their noses
and behind their tails. Blinders cover the rear and side vision of the horse,
forcing him to focus only in a forward direction.
During World War I, horses were
essential to transportation of weapons and cavalry units. Horses used during
battle often wore blinkers to block out distractions like artillery and
approaching armies form their view. (Alie
Maheux, Demand
Media Animals.pawnation.com )
I like how The Message Bible has written
the Hebrews 12:2-3 verses, used as the encouraging word for this message. It
says of Yeshua (Jesus), “He never lost sight of where He was headed. He plowed
through.” Makes me think He had blinders on, in the spiritual sense of the
word.
Having spiritual blinders on can keep us
focused on the plan and purpose the Lord has for each. With daily distractions
continually coming our way, we can easily lose track of the field’s row in
front of us, that we are planting in that which the Lord has placed us in.
World news, national news, the local new, which is ever before us, can get us
looking away from the Author and the Finisher of our faith. We can get so
caught up in the now moment that we get our eyes off THAT which the Lord has
asked us to keep our eyes on.
We need to get, and keep, our blinders on.
A little odd looking, but
you get the point!
Focusing on
the big picture ahead of us can keep our emotional health in better shape than
if we don’t. If we allow ourselves to get caught up needlessly in distractions
around us, we will become weary, our faith will dwindle, and we simply may miss
the mark that we are aiming for, to hit, in the long haul.
In addition
to the large worldview perspective the Lord has given us and wants us to
maintain, in seeing His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, each of us has
at least one specific calling, which we need to know. Having that true sense of
purpose, giving us direction to our steps along the way, comes with the help of
the Helper, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh, Hebrew).
Each of us
has a direct call and assignment on our lives which we need to give ourselves
to. It may be the teaching gift you have, the administrative work you do, the
passion to see the next generation know Him, the Giver of Life, as their own
personal Lord and Savior. Whatever it is, our focus must remain steady and
enduring, persevering to completion.
For me, my
calling is to support and stand with the nation of Israel, and the Jewish
people. As a Gentile, I know that is my assignment, and when I get distracted
by all that which happens around me, I need to put my own blinders on, and get
refocused on the vision I have been given. This, one of His primary heart beats,
has become mine also.
Encourage
yourself today in the fact that you have been given a specific purpose, needing
continual focus and attention. As you maintain vision, you will complete the
assignment you have been given. As it has been said, keep the main thing the
main thing in your life.
May His
Holy Spirit make this even more clear in your walk with Him today. That is His
desire.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People. Inc.
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