Officer’s Outlook
Stay Focused
Kyle Allen
07/15/2014
I ’ll admit, I have a hard time staying focused sometimes. Whether it’s text messages, phone calls, Facebook, or just thinking about what I need to do the next day—it seems like everything around me can be a distraction sometimes, especially when I’m trying to focus on finishing a task!
In our spiritual life, it can also be a challenge to stay focused. Life throws many distractions at us that take our time, energy, and resources away from what’s most important. Jesus knew that anyone who followed Him would face challenges in staying focused on the main priority. He taught that nothing else was more important than focusing on Him and doing His work.
There was a time when I especially struggled to know where to focus my life. It was at that critical juncture that someone shared with me this verse: “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). From then on I knew that God was calling me to focus my life on doing His work. For all of us—whatever our occupational calling in life—our first calling is ministry, as we are all called to be full-time missionaries wherever He has placed us! And He wants us always to stay focused on that calling. You are a “chosen generation and a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
As Seventh-day Adventists, we are here on this earth for one purpose—to lift up Christ in all that we do, and to tell others of His soon return. All of us have a part in that mission. No matter what our professional occupation, the clear and distinct focus of our lives should be His mission. We are called to share the message of hope and salvation as found in the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. Nothing is more important! Jesus is coming soon, and now is the time for His church—lay members and church workers, young and old, rich and poor—to focus on the mission God has given us to reach the world! In speaking of the importance for God’s people to focus their lives on lifting up Jesus by proclaiming the Three Angels’ Messages, Ellen White wrote, “There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention. (Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 9, p. 19, 20)
We have incredible opportunities just before us. In a special way, ASI is uniquely called to unite the powerful energy, enthusiasm, and spirit of lay workers and supporting ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to help fulfill our mission to take the gospel to the world. The world is waiting to hear our message! A new generation stands at the threshold to take up the torch and press forward. We must unite together and focus on the task to finish the work. Jesus said that “the fields are ripe for harvest.” We must prayerfully focus our lives single-mindedly on lifting Him up as we “share Christ in the marketplace.” Distractions abound, but now is the time for us to stay focused. Together, let us put our hands to the plow, keep our eyes focused on Jesus, and never look back.
