From the Pastor's Desk

God gives us a life strategy in Prov. 4:25. "Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead." The message is to look ahead.

Today, traveling is no big deal. We have nice cars, rest areas, good hotels, clean restaurants, roadside assistance, and GPS. We move on Interstates and in some parts of the world on Autobahns that are as straight and smooth as possible. In Bible times, roads were rough, and bandits were a threat. Evil and wickedness are likened to a dark, jagged, rocky path, prone to causing falls and despair (Prov. 4:19). Our journey in this world is still filled with perils. To look ahead is good advice.

It protects us from the danger of falling. There are temptations, if we look to the right or left. Job said, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl" (Job. 31:1). Train your eyes in the right direction.

Looking ahead guards us for the future. Even when the outlook appears dismal, you should think optimistically about your future. Prospects may seem bleak, but the future of a child of God is bright (Prov. 4:18). Glance at the past, but gaze at the future. There is a reason your car comes equipped with a small rear-view mirror and a large windshield.

And look ahead because it guards your focus. This advice from Proverbs about looking straight ahead is equivalent to our adage, "Keep your eye on the ball." Maintaining focus requires concentration and commitment.

It's what God would say to us. Look straight ahead!

-Pastors Mark and Jennifer