Ephesians 3:20 Encouraging and Empowering Faith: Don't Be Distracted - Luke 9:51-56

Don’t Be Distracted - Luke 9:51-56 - The Conclusion

Erik Erikson, the Harvard psychologist, characterized a third and powerful form of distraction as a “psychosocial moratorium.” In its simplest form, this term means working a job or engaging in some activity that garners the respect of family, friends and colleagues but has absolutely no spiritual and existential worth for the individual. In some ways, it is paid “time out.” For many people, regrettably, they spend their entire working years in jobs that hold no personal benefit other than a paycheck. In spiritual terms, these jobs possess no eternal value whatsoever. More problematically, most people in this predicament fail to stop and question whether they should get out of it. Essentially, they live out a life-long distraction.

The Lord Jesus, in His rebuke of the disciples, gives us an important strategy in avoiding the distractions of life. “And he said, ‘You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Jesus reminds them of the necessity of principle and purpose in all matters.

This brief passage in Luke reminds us of the daily possibilities of losing sight of our eternal home. As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are pilgrims traveling through this world. We exist to fulfill an eternal purpose. To that effect, this life is a dress rehearsal as we honor and glorify Almighty God. In order to gain a role in that great cosmological drama, we must remember three main tactics for succeeding in this life. First, define your destiny in accordance with the will of God. Second, determine to achieve it with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. Third, do not allow the circumstances of life to distract you! Utilize godly discipline in defending yourself against life’s distractions. Discipline yourself daily to maintain the principles and purposes of your destiny.

Finally, we can rejoice over the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ did not allow Himself to be distracted enroute to Jerusalem. As a burgeoning adolescent on an annual religious pilgrimage with His family, the Lord stays behind. He enters the Temple and began His study of the Law of God in order to define clearly the love of God to humankind. He did not let the temptations of youth distract Him from “being about His Father’s business.” As He commenced His public ministry, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days and nights. During that period, the devil came to Him and tempted Him with the fleeting chance to satisfy the physical instincts of hunger, wealth and power. Despite His weak physical condition, the Lord Jesus Christ does not allow Himself to be distracted with the lust of the world. On one occasion, His brothers who did not believe in Him recommended that He enter Jerusalem; rather than settle for the local notoriety of the small villages, he should proceed immediately to the big city and gain a national following. Yet, the Lord did not listen to this misguided flattery and ill-advised thoughts. He rebuked His brothers and told them that it was not yet His time to be exalted. On another occasion, after a very successful preaching, teaching and healing crusade, the crowd decides to seize Him and make Him their king. But, the Lord escapes their self-centered designs. He realizes that they do not understand the purpose of the teachings and miracles.

Then, He attempts to share His divine objectives with Peter, James, John and the other disciples. Impulsive to the core, Peter rebukes the Lord and insists that His death will never come to pass. In response, the Lord condemns Peter’s words and exhorts him to listen to the Lord’s teachings. In those charged exchanges, the Lord maintains His focus and discipline as it relates to His divine mission. He does not allow Himself to be distracted! Even as the Lord enters Jerusalem as the grand marshal of an enormous parade, He refuses to misinterpret the meaningless and temporal praise of the crowd. Instead, He glares at the forthcoming cross at Calvary.

On the night on which He is betrayed, He resists the chance to begin an armed rebellion. He restores the ear of the high priest’s servant. He tells His disciples to put away their swords. He, like a sheep before its shearer, silently and obediently submits to two unjust trials and even death itself. In all that agony, He focuses upon the purpose for which He came to earth. On the Via Delarosa, He step by step disciplines Himself to forge ahead to the fulfillment of His earthly mission. The gospels do not report that He decides to abandon His calling and try an alternative plan. He arrives at Calvary and ascends the ironic throne of the cross. With His dying breath, He shouts the triumph of a victorious general, “It is finished!” The Lord’s focus enables His unimaginable resurrection three days later. Moreover, it reverses the curse of Eden and offers the Father’s gracious salvation to humankind.