As I read Proverbs 4 today one thing caught my I. Verse 25 says to keep our eyes straight ahead, to fix our eyes ahead of us. This sank into my brain because it brought to mind my recently completed fast. In order to purchase items to make salad, and later juice, I had to go to the commissary. Just like all other food store, there in the front is were placed items that are either not moving or bring the most money. Things like candy and chips sat screaming, "Buy me." The only way I could get through untempted is to keep my eyes forward. I needed to look at the ground lest I break my fast too soon and thus waste all the effort I had invested up to that point
This is like everything else in life. If we want to get through without missing up our ministry we must roll on with eyes front. This is almost impossible, because the world at large is spending all expense to make us turn our heads. Bright lights flashy slogans interupt what we are doing whether it be driving our cars or watching the tube, to get us tempted. We are inticed into accepting what is vile to God, or placing one sin above another.
The world at large is a confused place. Those that are in sin claim that their sin is not as bad as the sins of others. Those that suffer from fornication would have us believe that since they are not practicing acts of homosexuality they are not as bad in the eyes of God. These are the same to God, sin is more than what one does. It is more of where ones heart is at. We can feed a nation of poor. We can empty our bank accounts to clothe every poor child in the world. However, if it is done for any reason at all other than for a love of Christ then we have sinned. Sinning is when we seek to either share or straight out supplant the lord by glorifying ourselves and mocking him by disobeying his commands.
So keep your eyes front. Focus upon what is important, and that means Christ. Seek knowledge, find wisdom, these can only be found in the word of God.