In The Greatest Finish Fails in Sports History, Andrew Daniels recounts several stories of runners, cyclists, and ballplayers who celebrated victory too soon—only to suffer heartbreaking defeat.
At the 2014 Shanghai Diamond League meet, Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi stretched out his arms and stuck out his tongue just before crossing the finish line in the men’s 800 meters. In those final moments, Kenya’s Robert Biwott surged past him for the victory.
In 2015, the University of Oregon’s Tanguy Pepiot appeared poised to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Pepsi Team Invitational. But as he motioned to the crowd at Hayward Field to cheer louder, he slowed just enough for Meron Simon of the University of Washington to sprint past him in the final meters.
Then, at the 2018 European Championships, Israeli runner Lonah Chemtai Salpeter mistakenly thought she had finished the race. She lifted her arms in celebration, only to discover she still had one more lap to go. The loss of momentum dropped her from medal position to fourth place.
Showboating, overconfidence, and losing focus can all spell disaster in competition. A race is not won until the finish line is crossed.
The same is true spiritually.
Many Christians begin the race with passion and determination, but distractions, discouragement, worldly pursuits, temptations, and misplaced priorities slowly pull their eyes away from the goal. As with those athletes, it is possible to lose focus before reaching the finish line.
This is the fourth lesson in our Wellandport VBS series, Developing the Heart of a Spiritual Champion, and it reminds us that champions refuse distractions.
The Bible warns about several distractions that can destroy our focus. Jesus spoke of “the cares of this world” that choke God’s word and render it unfruitful (Matt. 13:22-23). Busyness, material concerns, worldly priorities, and sin can gradually crowd out what matters most.
Gary Henry wisely observed:
“As life becomes more complex, the more tempted we are to dilute our attention. With so many fascinating concerns competing for our recognition, we tend to be distracted from the few that should be our focus… With a limited amount of energy, we must make some hard choices and concentrate on our highest priorities.”
Other distractions come from within. Worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34), fear (Luke 12:32), and discouragement (2 Cor. 4:16-18) can consume our thoughts and rob us of spiritual clarity. John reminds us that hatred and sin can even blind our spiritual vision (1 John 2:11).
The antidote to distraction is faith.
Faith enables us to see what cannot yet be seen. As Paul reminded the Corinthians, “we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen” (2 Cor. 4:18). Someone aptly said, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.”
Faith also dispels doubt. Jesus asked Peter, “Why did you doubt?” when he took his eyes off the Lord while walking on the water (Matt. 14:31). Shakespeare correctly observed, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
Furthermore, faith rises above feelings. Feelings are subjective and constantly changing. Faith rests upon the unchanging promises of God. As Paul declared, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
Our focus grows even stronger when faith is joined with hope. Hope encourages us to get started (Isa. 40:31), enables us to rise above our limitations (Phil. 4:13), emboldens us to keep going (Rom. 15:13), empowers us to say no to sin (1 John 3:3), and enlightens us to see beyond the present moment.
So how do we sharpen our spiritual focus?
- Focus on God’s purpose. David “served his own generation by the will of God” (Acts 13:36).
- Focus on God’s perspective. Remember that “the Lord sees not as man sees” (1 Sam. 16:7).
- Focus on God’s plan. Seek to understand “what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17).
- Focus on God’s priorities. “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33-34).
And above all, focus on God’s prize. Like Paul, forget what lies behind and press forward “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).
Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “The successful man is the one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
When focus is sharpened by faith and strengthened by hope, distractions become stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks. Hardships become training grounds for endurance. Opposition becomes motivation for greater discipline.
We cannot control every obstacle, hardship, or distraction that comes into our path. But we can control where we direct our attention.
So let us determine to starve our distractions and feed our focus as we press toward the heavenly prize.
In the final analysis, the exhortation in Hebrews 12:2 will serve us well in maintaining our focus by “fixing our eyes on Jesus.”
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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