What's Your Oil Rig?

My family and I recently went on a trip to Gulf Shores, AL. Well, technically Gulf Shores, but more so the Fort Morgan area. As the two locations are only a few miles apart, there doesn’t seem to be much of a reason to specify where we actually were. But there is. Gulf Shores is a well-known, moderately popular spot for a beach vacation. Fort Morgan, just down the road, not as much. It does, however, bring more of a quiet, family-friendly environment; not as developed, not as crowded or touristy. Sounds great to me! But there’s got to be a reason there aren’t more people on this side of the sand...

About the only time that whole week I had any margin to myself was day four of the trip. I walked down to the beach to pack up for the day and realized nobody else was down there, so I parked it on the sand and took the next 30 minutes to myself. I did what you do when you sit on the beach -bury your toes in the sand, calm your mind, and just stare off into the deep.

The once beautiful view of an endless ocean is now polluted along the horizon with… OIL RIGS. Yes. As I sit there staring into the deep, I’m actually staring at several oil rigs to the left and to the right. There’s the difference between the two beaches.

It’s hard to focus on the ocean’s vast beauty when you’re distracted on both sides by these giant obstructions. But... even still… God spoke. He simply said, “ Look straight ahead, son. Eyes on the prize. Focus on Me.” For the first time on that trip, I was able to look ahead, past the oil rigs to see our Creator’s endless beauty. I was immediately brought to this scripture -- “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:12-14

Our Father wants our focus. Yet so many things steer our focus away from Him. Oil Rigs -- Distractions.They are everywhere we look. To the right and to the left. It could be an addiction, a fantasy, an idea, a career, a person. These distractions will steal not only our focus, but also our hope and joy, our drive and ambition, our mind and soul.

BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! He gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57)! He will remove the distractions and set our focus back on Him. Let us allow Him to.

What is your oil rig? What is stealing your focus away from the Father?

Our attention is always hooked by something. Let’s reel it in and cast our attention on HIM.