Why should we look unto Jesus? He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. (See Hebrews 12:2.) "Looking unto Jesus" is a simple, three-word phrase, and yet it contains the answer we are all seeking--the whole secret of life.
Art Katz was a young Jewish atheist who was hitchiking in Germany during the sixties. One of the men who picked him up listened to the youth complaining about conditions in the world. The man simply said, "You know, all these problems would be resolved if we would simply obey these words of Jesus: 'Follow me.'" Art said it was as if his heart exploded when he heard these words. Soon thereafter, he became a Christian and eventually a dynamic evangelist and author.
Looking unto Jesus helps us to learn who He is, what He has done, what He gives, and what He requires. He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. He is our Savior and Redeemer.
Last night I had a dream in which the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance the first thing that happened to me when I looked unto Jesus when I was only thirteen. He reminded me of the Scripture the Holy Spirit used to bring conviction of my sin. (Yes, I was a sinner even at that young age and I knew it.) That precious Scripture was "But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). Though I did not understand the full implications of this verse, the Holy Spirit used it to cause me to turn my eyes upon Jesus and to open my heart to Him. I received Jesus then and there.
Yes, looking unto Jesus and following Him provide a focal point for life that leads to so many things. Adolph Monod writes, "Looking unto Jesus during all the time which is allotted to us here below—unto Jesus ever new, without allowing either the remembrance of the past or the cares of an unknown future to distract our thoughts; unto Jesus now, if we have never looked unto Him; unto Jesus again, if we have ceased to do so; unto Jesus alone, unto Jesus still, unto Jesus always, with a more fixed and steadfast gaze, 'changed into the same image from glory to glory'; and thus waiting for the hour when He will call us to pass from earth to heaven, and from time to eternity;—the promised, the blessed hour, when at last we shall be 'like unto Him, for we shall see Him as He is."
There is a very special book that we have published here at Bridge-Logos entitled Christ Is God's Everything for You by Harold J. Chadwick. I encourage you to read this book that will cause you to look unto Jesus for all that you need. Harold writes, "Remember this principle: Christ is everything that God has for us, every individual action and blessing of God, and to have Christ is to have every one of those things--and none of those things are available to us outside of Christ."
My friend, look unto Jesus and you will never be the same. You will become radiant, transformed, encouraged, and a totally new creation in Him. "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."
