Look and Live: The Antidote to Our Distraction Dilemma
To say that we live in a distracted culture would be an understatement. We’re distracted by screens and phones. The average attention span on a screen has decreased from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to around 40 seconds today. People check their phone on average 200 times per day, with the average person touching their phone 2,600 times (with heavy users exceeding 5,400 touches per day).
We are distracted at work. Knowledge workers are interrupted 275 times daily, with 59% unable to focus for 30 minutes.
We’re distracted by ads. The average person is exposed to between 4,000 and 10,000 ads daily. Last year, advertisers spent around $430 billion to get you to fix your eyes on them and their product to convince you of what you did not have and needed. Algorithms on social media are designed to keep you engaged for as long as possible.
With all that distraction, it’s no wonder that we have difficulty seeing what’s truly important and ultimately life-giving.
As an antidote to our distraction dilemma, Jesus invites us to fix our gaze on Him instead.
“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” – John 3:13-15
Jesus makes a curious reference to Numbers 21:4-9, where God sends poisonous snakes among His people, which kill many of them, because they are complaining against Him. He tells Moses to make a bronze snake (a picture of the curse) and put it on a pole for anyone to look upon and live.
Thus, Jesus equates Himself with the bronze snake. Jesus, who did not sin, was willing to experience the curse of sin when He was lifted up on the cross. All who “look” upon Jesus would, therefore, not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
We are invited to look at the significance of the cross. Look at why Jesus was hanging there to begin with. Look at His compassion and power. Look at His nail-scared hands. Look at His authority and how He has the power to raise His life up again (John 10:18).
For if we look, we will ultimately live!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” – John 3:16-18
To look and believe in Jesus means more than giving mental assent and believing facts about Jesus. Even the demons believe in Jesus! It’s to believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be. It’s to believe that Jesus died on the cross to be your substitute. It’s to believe He really rose from the dead—defeating sin, death, and hell. It’s ultimately to believe in Jesus that you depend upon and commit your life and adoration to Him.
This can happen when we begin to look. But what you and I know is that it’s easy to glance but harder to keep our eyes on something without intentionality. For some of us, we may need to continue to check out Jesus—to see if He really is who He says He is. Read the Gospel accounts, like the Gospel of Mark, to discover who He is and who we are in relation to Him.
For others of us, we may need help to see. It’s often easier to sustain our gaze with others’ help—by being in a community that can comfort, pray for, encourage, and keep us accountable. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we can float from one thing to the next.
In this next season, will you ask for God’s help to keep our eyes fixed on Him?
“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2
Look at Jesus, lifted up, in your place… Look at Him and live!
