November 25, 2021: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

“Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time” (Heb. 9:28, KJV).

In this Bible verse, the phrase “look for” means to “wait eagerly.” The Greek translation is made up of three parts: apo (away); kara (head); and dokeo (to await). The literal meaning is very similar to a spring turkey hunter. It means to wait with the head outstretched. The prefix, apo, is a turning away from everything else, with your head raised and your eyes fixed on a single object or an object to come.

Imagine you are a turkey hunter in the woods on a beautiful spring morning. After conversing with a wild turkey gobbler you know to be the boss of the woods, you have made your last call. He has sounded off his last time and has zoomed in on your position. There is no doubt he is coming straight toward you. You’ve flipped off the safety and your finger is on the trigger. Barely breathing, your eye is fixed on that one spot where you are sure he will appear. Nothing can distract you, even if your wife were to suddenly appear and whisper she had just won a million dollars. You’d reply to her, “There’s a gobbler! He’s coming!”

This is the picture Scripture gives of God’s elect who are anxiously waiting for Jesus to appear. With concentrated expectancy, their attention is completely fixed on that spot. Nothing the world has to offer can distract them. As God’s elect, we must be like that spring turkey hunter, and allow nothing to distract us or break our concentration.

Lord, may we always keep our focus on You! Amen.

Richard Cutright is the pastor of the Buckhannon church in West Virginia.

Editor’s Note: No turkeys were harmed in the writing of this devotional. Happy Thanksgiving!