While working on an assembly line at Wayne Manufacturing in Pomona, California, a black employee captured my attention. While the other employees fulfilled their assigned tasks, this guy was laser focused on efficiently doing quality work regardless of what others did or said to him. When I talked to him, He taught me how to leverage my weight to be more efficient. We became friends. This was during the Watt’s riots in Southern California, and I was harassed for befriending him, but that didn’t distract me from being a friend and doing what was right.
We allow so many things to distract us from being a good spouse, good parents, a diligent worker on the job, as well as completing our God-given task. In 1 Chronicles 21, Satan tripped up King David by seducing him to take a census so he would know how many subjects he had authority over—which God had forbidden a king to do. This led God to send a virus that killed 70,000 of his innocent men! David realized he had sinned, took full responsibility for his sin and repented, so the destroying angel of the Lord stopped the raging death toll.
Ornan (Araunah, in other translations), a farmer on the edge of town, was manually threshing his grain when he, and his four sons, saw this angel of the Lord. His sons were so terrified they ran for cover, but not their dad, Ornan. He was so focused on his work, he simply went back to threshing his grain. His response caught my attention. Have I been that focused on doing my God-given assignment that not even seeing an angel of the Lord would distract me?
It is interesting to note that David instantly understood the need to repent and make a sacrificial offering to express his remorse. So, he offered to buy Ornan’s land on which to offer his sin-offering. Please note this! Ornan had not sinned, so had nothing to do with God’s judgement on David. However, he was so dedicated to serving his king that after David had done such a terrible thing, Ornan told David that he could have not just his land but also his oxen and whatever else David needed to show repentance!
Wow! That is being laser focused on doing the right thing no matter what! Have I been THAT focused on sacrificial service to God’s leading in my life? What Ornan did here challenged me as I move forward in whatever God has purposed for the rest of my days? For the last months, and especially since Connie’s graduation, in my soul (mind and emotions) I have felt like a lost blind man, or a little child. In my spirit, my innermost being, I am fully confident God is holding my hand and will take me through whatever is ahead. However, my soul gets distracted from time to time and I forget He has my hand even though so many waves crash over me. To be nakedly honest, my greatest concern about tomorrow is becoming distracted by me—my humanity, my mind, emotions, circumstances, and what is still unknown. I desperately need the Holy Spirit to protect me from myself—from becoming so distracted, I inadvertently let go of His hand. I was recently reminded of Jesus’ parable of the seeds planted in the four soils. The seed in the third type of soil became distracted by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things (Mark 4:18-19, ESV). My sole comfort is in God’s character, His ways, His core values. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these comforting and faith-building words. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6, ESV). For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. Colossians 1:29 (NRSV)