Look Ahead

Horseracing is not my cup of tea except when it comes to the Triple Crown.  Winning three races over a five week period is a phenomenal feat.  Secretariat, one of the greatest race horses in American history completed the three-peat in what is considered the best performance in the twentieth century, winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths.  Something caught my eye in footage of the race. Each horse had a hood with plastic cups shading their eyes.  These are called racing blinkers. According to Wikipedia, “many racehorse trainers believe the blinkers keep horses focused on what is in front, encouraging them to pay attention to the race rather than other distractions, such as crowds. Additionally, blinkers are commonly seen on driving horses, to keep them from being distracted or spooked, especially on crowded city streets.”  Winning a race is attainable if focused on the goal.  Horses looking to the left or right get left behind.

Proverbs 4:25-27

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.

We would all be better off if we were fitted with custom made blinkers.  Keeping our eyes on the Master takes determined effort. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian and serves as our blinker to help us focus on God’s word, on His calling and prompts us to seek His approval.  Submit to the Spirit because we cannot afford to allow our eyes to follow after every enticing thing that presents itself.  Look straight ahead and not to the left or right where evil lurks and desires our attention.  It is better to have never taken notice than to struggle to resist the urge to follow our fleshly desires.  Getting off track and tacking detours is a losing proposition.  We are running a race.  Avail yourself of the blinkers God provides.  Finish the race.  Don’t be left behind.