Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Remembrance Day is a day as Canadians we stop and reflect on the incredible price that was paid for the freedom and peace we enjoy. May we never take for granted the wonderful land we are privileged to call home.

A few years ago I stood on the steps of our church and looked across the street at a landmark high rise building where a group of protestors shouted, ”no justice, no peace”.

Yet across from them, at street level beside our church, stands the greatest symbol for justice and peace – a cross. Ultimately there is only one source for both justice and peace: the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross.

In our world today,  I think we have all appreciate the tensions of the day can cause people to be angry and frustrated. In light of this, an old song came to mind:

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

If we put our eyes on an individual, or a country to give us hope, we are going to be disappointed. Daniel is a great example of a man who faithfully prayed to his God daily despite the huge swings of political power he experienced in his lifetime. We too, in our lifetime will experience upheaval and shifts of power. To stay in a place of peace, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

The first thing we need to do is keep our eyes on Jesus and focus on His words. Jesus told us “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Governments, political parties, and even nations will pass away, but God’s word will remain. The seats of power will change, but the One who sits on the throne of heaven is unchanging.

The scriptures teach us to pray for our present leaders and give back to them what is due them. At one point Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” It is good to remember that Caesar and the Roman Empire, like so many others has come and gone, but the church that Jesus is building is flourishing today around the world anchored in His unchanging word.

Our secular culture often suggests that living a life fully committed to God’s Word is a step backward. But in truth, to move forward, we must return to the foundation of our faith. In Jeremiah’s time, the people had strayed far from God, and much of what once made their nation strong was crumbling. They stood at a critical crossroads: one path leading to destruction, the other to justice and peace. In Jeremiah 6:16, we read: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!'”

Jesus reminded us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Governments, political parties, and even nations will fade, but God’s Word endures forever.

So, which road will you choose as we move forward? The first thing God asks of us is to pause and reflect. In recent months, there has been a whirlwind of media coverage and political turmoil—pollsters, politicians, Wall Street, and even church leaders have all stopped to ask: “What is happening?” But now, at this crossroads, a decision must be made. Which way will we go?

The second thing God calls us to do is to take a good look around us. Notice the thread of discontent woven through mainstream media—there’s a deep dissatisfaction in the world that no political party can ever truly satisfy. Lasting contentment comes only when Jesus reigns in our hearts. We are faced with two paths: one is the secular road that rejects God and His Word, and the other is the “old godly way,” which invites us to trust in Him and follow His Word.

Thirdly, many people today don’t know what the “old godly way” is so we need to humble ourselves and ask for help.  Perhaps our grandparents understood it, but for many, it has been lost over time, which is why we need to ask. Simply asking is an act of humility and surrender. The timeless principles found in God’s Word—like loving your neighbor as yourself—are exactly what we need to move forward. God is faithful to reveal and renew these ways in us, but we must seek Him. As we open His Word and ask for guidance, we are, in essence, focusing on Jesus. This is why John began his gospel with: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

May God’s peace fill your heart as you walk the trusted, godly path forward.