Faces Firmly Set
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
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Straight to the Cross
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COLUMN: Heavenly Connections
Faces Firmly Set
by Tim Hall
"So where you headed, son?" The driver looked at
the old service station attendant in disbelief.
Couldn't he see? Anyone could tell this young man
was on a journey; his car was packed with laundry
baskets and boxes full of clothes and pillows. A
car in Kansas with New Jersey tags was another
clue that a traveler was present. But written on
virtually every window of his car were the words
"California or Bust!" Where was he headed? Wasn't
it obvious?
Jesus wasn't driving a car in Luke 9, but his
destination was nonetheless obvious. In verse 51
Luke wrote, "Now it came to pass, when the time
had come for Him to be received up, that He
steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem" (New
King James Version). Verse 53 reiterates the
point: "But they [the Samaritans] did not receive
Him, because His face was set for the journey to
Jerusalem."
There are many details Luke doesn't reveal, but
one comes through clearly: People around Jesus
knew where He was headed. How He conveyed that
message is not clear: Did they know it simply
because of His physical stance, the things He
said, or by some other means? That mystery must
remain unsolved for now, but no one wondered
whether Jesus would be staying in town.
One other fact recorded by Luke makes this episode
more noteworthy: Jesus set His face toward
Jerusalem even though He knew it would bring
opposition. The prejudices of Jews and Samaritans
toward one another is well known. At times, Jesus
broke through the strong walls of Samaritan bias
by showing unusual compassion and patience (John 4
is a good example). But on this occasion, Jesus
did not hide the fact that He was traveling to the
hub of Jewish faith. As a result, the old fires of
hatred were rekindled among the Samaritans.
It would be good for us to reflect on the
direction toward which our faces are set. Paul
spoke of the importance of this in Colossians
3:1,2:
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ is, sitting
at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things
above, not on things on the earth."
Far too often, Christians allow the world to
condition them, and their focus is found on
earthly things. Their faces are not set toward
God, and their lifestyles indicate it. But those
who set their minds on things above will
demonstrate with their values, their words and
their actions that heaven is their intended
destination. People of faith "declare plainly that
they seek a homeland" (Hebrews 11:14) that is not
of this earth.
A price will have to be paid for standing out from
those around us. Peter acknowledged this in 1
Peter 4:4: "In regard to these, they think it
strange that you do not run with them in the same
flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you." Like
the Samaritans who shunned the Lord for the
direction in which His face was set, others may
shun us because we are so otherworldly. But heaven
will be worth any price we have to pay.
Evaluate yourself carefully. In which direction is
your face set?
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