As I sit down to write this article, numerous distractions present themselves. The dog is begging for some leftover bacon from breakfast, Allie is asking questions about her schoolwork, Tassie is busily working around the house, and my attention is divided between my wandering mind and an explosive headache. Today, focus is hard to maintain. Yet focus is what God calls us to as good soldiers of Christ.
Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. -2 Timothy 2:3-4
Unfocused soldiers are dangerous. During wartime, they risk disaster and death for themselves and their platoon. They are likely to get shot by not noticing the enemy. Christians are in a war against Satan. A distracted Christian is dangerous too. They risk spiritual disaster for themselves and for their fellow soldiers (not to mention the lost they could have reached!). As an example, these Christians may be too focused on their position on the latest “hot topic” to focus on what God has to say.
Satan uses distractions from a variety of sources: family, job, sports, money, stress, etc. He wants to take our attention off Jesus. When this happens, we are more likely to give in to temptations that promise to make our lives “easier” or “more pleasant.” Temporary pleasures are never good reasons to compromise our faith. Athletes and farmers can’t afford to give into this temptation either.
Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. -2 Timothy 2:5-6
Just as a soldier must obey orders, an athlete must obey the rules of a competition. In the same way, a Christian must obey God’s word if they are going to remain pleasing to Him. Otherwise, they run the risk of being disqualified from their eternal prize. To combat this, the people of God need to be in His word daily, seeking to learn and grow to be more like Jesus. Paul points out this fact to Timothy.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. -2 Timothy 2:8-10
Jesus is like the commanding officer keeping His troops focused on the upcoming mission. He is like the coach preparing the athlete for the upcoming competition. Keeping Jesus in the forefront of our minds will aid us as life attempts to entangle us. Satan is sneaky. Our salvation and the salvation of others may depend on our ability to focus.