The Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines eliminate as “to remove something that is not wanted or needed; to get rid of something”.
Distraction is also defined as “something that makes it difficult for you to think or pay attention; something that which amuses or entertains you so that you do not think about problems, work, etc”.
“You can always find a distraction if you are looking for one”, Tom Kite.
Author John Di Lemme said “Your results are the product of either personal focus or personal distractions. The choice is yours”.
We have all been distracted in one way or the other. Distraction prevents us from concentrating on whatever we do which eventually robs us of our victory and success. At times we become lost in thought during conversations with people and we tend to ask them what they were saying. Distractions are a threat to concentration, success and happiness.
Television programs, use of WhatsApp on our cell phones have become major distractions and ruined otherwise happy marriages as well as the future of brilliant students. Many promising students have made shipwrecked of their future because they could not guard what had been deposited in them and have become addicted to the use of these devices and applications. They allowed peer pressure, promiscuous lifestyles and indiscipline to distract them from their studies.
Again, happy marriages have hit the rocks because couples allowed bad advice from friends and relatives to take the shine and peace out of the marriage. They were not vigilant when the signs were showing.
Isa 6:1-5 MKJV
(1) In the year that King Uzziah died I then saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
(2) Above it stood the seraphs; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
(3) And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of Hosts; the whole earth full of His glory.
(4) And the doorposts moved at the voice of the one who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
(5) Then I said, Woe is me! For I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of Hosts.
King Uzziah was 16 years old when he was made a king in place of his father Amaziah. He reigned for 52 years and his reign was very successful initially. He did what was right in the sight of God (2 Kings 15:3; 2 Chr 26:4, 5). Uzziah was suddenly struck with leprosy while in the act of offering incense. He was driven from the temple and compelled to stay in a separate house till his death (2 Chro 26: 16-21). King Uzziah allowed wealth, pride and arrogance to distract him from his commitment to God and humility towards Him.
When the king died Isaiah turned again to the Lord, and it was then that he received his vision, “In the year King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne. Something needs to die or taken out of our life in order to see the glory of God. Sin prevents us from experiencing the presence of God. After Isaiah saw the Lord, he saw himself, “Then I said woe is me! For I am undone; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts”. Isaiah saw how far he had drifted away from the Lord and when he finally saw God again, he realised how unclean he was after he got the vision of God. He repented of his sins. Until we realize how far we have fallen and repent of our sins we will continue to live in spiritual obscurity.
(Vrs 8) “And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me”. The Lord has a job for somebody today and who will stand up and go or do it? God purified him with fire and he became wealthy to be used by the Lord again.
Mark 10: 46-52
In one of Jesus’ numerous journeys with his disciples while undertaking his divinely mandated assignments, he came across blind Bartimeus at the outskirts of Jericho. Bartimeus heard about Jesus passing by and shouted to Him for help. The very people who told him Jesus was passing by were the same people who told him to shut up. The crowd became a distraction to him from seeing Jesus. Their warning to him to keep quiet was a distraction. In order to avoid this big distraction, he shouted even the more and louder.
His shouting drew the attention of Jesus and Jesus called for him. On his way he saw that his garment was a distraction to him so he had to cast it away in order to get to Jesus. Blind Bartimeus was able to receive his breakthrough after he had eliminated the distractions around him and focused on the healer and deliverer. We should also learn from his example in order to achieve our aim.
We see also in many instances where the Pharisees wanted to distract Jesus from accomplishing His mission here on earth. Despite all the attempts by the devil to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His ministry, Jesus triumphed. Remain focused in your convictions and eliminate all distractions that are threat to achieving your dreams.
Heb 12: 1 Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God. Beloved, our ultimate aim is to go to heaven. The reality is that, on our Christian journey are many obstacles that distract us and if we are not vigilant we could lose our focus and miss heaven. Unconfessed sin could prevent us from entering heaven. Like serious athletes, let us run in such a way as to obtain the prize.
Conclusion: You may be down and confused, frustrated and in despair, don’t give up and don’t let that weigh you down to let you lose focus. Arise, quicken yourself, gather your thoughts and do what you are supposed to do and surely victory will be yours.