Articles Movies lately have been adopting a different sort of tactic when it comes to the ending of a film. There are many films that claim “reality doesn’t always get packaged up with a bow, and happy all the time.” Yet, humans from their very existence have been in pursuit of the happy ending for their own lives. Many pursue it through materialistic means (cars, money, houses, gifts). Some, unable to handle reality, pursue the happy ending through addiction. Yet others pursue the happy ending through isolation and cutting themselves off from reality. All these work great in life, but as the old saying goes, “You can’t take it with you.”
As Christians, why do we strive so hard to live a happy existence? We can spend more time worried about money, food, clothes, what other people think about what we’re wearing, out kids, our parents, what other people think about our kids or parents, what our parents think about our kids, what our kids think about our parents, why our kids don’t think, etc. You get the picture. We focus so heavily on our life that we miss Jesus altogether. “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” 2 Timothy 2:4.
So since we are “soldiers”, and not to get “entangled with civilian pursuits”, how then do we live life? Where is out primary focus? The Sunday School answer, and right answer, is Jesus. He is our example in living. Hebrews 12:2 says, “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.”
We are to “look to Jesus” as our example. He is the one who designed, built, lived and perfected out faith. He did it in reality. He did it here on earth.. He lived it to perfection. According to this verse, He was able to live through “the cross, the shame”, the temptation, everything because he focused on “the joy that was set before Him.” He kept His eyes on the ending. The happy one. The joyful one.
In the same way, every saved believer has a happy ending. We ultimately will be at the feet of Jesus worshipping Him for eternity. If we could focus on the ending, and not get caught up in the middle, I believe we would be joyful people instead of worried all the time and “entangled” in what the world has to offer.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Where are you looking?
