There was a man driving through a dangerous mountain road during a storm.
Behind him was a terrible accident he barely escaped.
Beside him were steep cliffs and dangerous curves.
Ahead of him was home, safety, warmth, and rest.
As he drove:
he kept looking in the rearview mirror to remember what he escaped,
he watched the road carefully in the present,
and he kept his eyes ahead because home was waiting.
That is the Christian life.
Every believer must learn three spiritual looks:
a look backward to the cross,
a look upward to Christ in heaven,
and a look forward to Christ’s return.
Many Christians become spiritually weak because they lose one of these looks.
Some only look backward and never grow.
Some only focus on present struggles and forget eternity.
Some become so focused on earth they stop longing for heaven.
But the Bible teaches believers to live with all three looks.
The Christian life begins with a look.
It continues with a look.
And it ends with a look.
The entire story of redemption can be summarized through these three looks:
LOOK TO CHRIST CRUCIFIED — Salvation from the penalty of sin.
LOOK TO CHRIST EXALTED — Salvation from the power of sin.
LOOK FOR CHRIST RETURNING — Salvation from the presence of sin.
Christianity is not merely following rules.
It is fixing our eyes upon a Person.
Salvation is not found in religion.
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.
The Gospel continually redirects our eyes:
from self to Christ,
from sin to grace,
from earth to eternity,
from fear to hope.
The devil constantly tries to distract believers.
He wants believers:
looking at failures,
looking at circumstances,
looking at fear,
looking at the world,
looking at fleshly desires.
But Scripture repeatedly says:
“LOOK UNTO HIM.”
Salvation from sin’s penalty.
II. THE SECOND LOOK — LOOK TO CHRIST AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND
Victory over sin’s power.
III. THE THIRD LOOK — LOOK FOR CHRIST’S RETURN
Deliverance from sin’s presence forever.
The prophet Isaiah ministered during a dark time in Israel’s history.
The nation had become proud, rebellious, and spiritually blind.
Yet God still cried out through Isaiah:
“Look unto Me and be ye saved…”
This invitation was not only for Israel, but “all the ends of the earth.”
Centuries later, John the Baptist pointed directly at Jesus and declared:
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Then the writer of Hebrews encouraged suffering believers to keep “looking unto Jesus.”
Finally, Paul the Apostle instructed believers in Titus to keep “looking for that blessed hope.”
The Bible moves our eyes:
from Calvary,
to the heavenly throne,
to the coming kingdom.
Isaiah 45:22
John 1:29
Hebrews 9:26
1 Peter 3:18
Hebrews 12:1–3
Hebrews 7:25
Colossians 3:1–4
Romans 6:6–19
Titus 2:13
Philippians 3:20–21
Ephesians 5:26–27
John 17:20–25
“Look unto Me, and be ye saved…”
Notice how simple salvation is.
God did not say:
“Climb unto Me.”
“Work unto Me.”
“Suffer unto Me.”
“Earn unto Me.”
He said:
“LOOK.”
The Hebrew word for “look” carries the idea of turning one’s gaze toward something with expectation and dependence.
This is the look of faith.
John 1:29
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Sin + Cross = Redemption
The word “behold” means:
stare carefully,
observe deeply,
focus completely.
John the Baptist was announcing Heaven’s final sacrifice.
Under the Old Testament:
lambs died daily,
blood flowed continually,
sacrifices were repeated endlessly.
But Jesus came as THE Lamb.
Not one lamb among many.
The Lamb.
The Lamb of God
In the Old Testament:
Abraham offered a ram,
Israel sacrificed Passover lambs,
priests killed temple sacrifices.
But now God Himself provides the Lamb.
This is divine mercy.
Humanity could not save itself.
Religion could not remove sin.
Morality could not erase guilt.
Only blood could satisfy divine justice.
Hebrews 9:26
“He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
The Greek word for “put away” means:
cancel,
abolish,
remove permanently.
Jesus did not merely hide sin.
He defeated sin judicially before God.
At the cross:
wrath was satisfied,
justice was fulfilled,
mercy was released,
redemption was purchased.
Real-Life Example
Imagine a prisoner sitting on death row.
Then suddenly someone walks into the prison and says:
“Your sentence has been fully paid.
You are free to leave.”
Now imagine the prisoner refusing to leave because he keeps trying to pay the debt himself.
That is how many sinners respond to grace.
Jesus already paid the debt.
Yet many still try to save themselves through religion, works, and self-righteousness.
The cross is enough.
“It Is Finished”
When Jesus cried:
“It is finished,”
He declared complete victory.
Tetelestai = Paid in Full
The Greek word Tetelestai was stamped on paid debts.
Hell cannot demand payment twice for sins already paid by Christ.
The believer’s salvation rests on the finished work of Jesus.
Not feelings.
Not performance.
Not human goodness.
But the blood of the Lamb.
“Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith…”
The Christian life did not begin with Jesus only to continue by human strength.
The same Christ who saves also sustains.
The word “Author” comes from the Greek archegos.
Meaning:
pioneer,
captain,
originator.
Jesus blazed the trail of salvation.
The word “Finisher” means:
completer,
perfecter,
one who brings to completion.
Jesus does not abandon what He begins.
Christ in Heaven
Hebrews says Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Why is this important?
Because Christ is not merely a historical figure.
He is alive now.
At this very moment:
Christ intercedes,
Christ advocates,
Christ strengthens,
Christ sustains believers.
Hebrews 7:25
“He ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Think about this:
Jesus is praying for His people.
The same voice that calmed storms is interceding for believers before the Father.
The same hands pierced by nails now represent us in Heaven.
Real-Life Example
A child learning to walk keeps stumbling.
A good father does not abandon the child after one fall.
He lifts the child repeatedly.
Many believers think:
“If I struggle, God is finished with me.”
But Christ is not only Savior from sin’s penalty.
He is Savior from sin’s power.
Romans 6
The secret of victory is union with Christ.
The believer is:
crucified with Christ,
buried with Christ,
raised with Christ.
Sin still fights, but it no longer reigns.
The old master has been dethroned.
Colossians 3:1
“Seek those things which are above…”
The Christian cannot run effectively while staring constantly at earth.
Many believers are spiritually exhausted because their eyes are fixed on:
politics,
money,
entertainment,
comparison,
social media,
worldly success.
The soul becomes what it continually beholds.
If believers only stare at darkness, fear grows.
If believers look unto Christ, faith grows.
The Race of Faith
Hebrews compares the Christian life to a race.
This race requires endurance.
Not speed only.
Endurance.
Some believers start passionately but stop when suffering comes.
But Jesus endured:
betrayal,
rejection,
shame,
scourging,
crucifixion.
And He endured “for the joy set before Him.”
Humor Illustration
Some Christians quit spiritual growth faster than people quit gym memberships in January.
One difficult season:
“I’m done.”
One unanswered prayer:
“I quit.”
One church disagreement:
“Christianity is hard.”
But Jesus endured the cross itself.
The Christian life requires perseverance through grace.
“Looking for that blessed hope…”
Christianity is deeply future-oriented.
Believers are not waiting for destruction.
They are waiting for a King.
The early church lived with expectation.
They believed Jesus could come at any moment.
That hope purified them.
The Blessed Hope
The word “hope” in Scripture is not wishful thinking.
Biblical hope means:
confident expectation,
certain anticipation.
The believer’s future is guaranteed because Christ already conquered death.
Philippians 3:20–21
“Who shall change our vile body…”
One day:
sickness ends,
temptation ends,
funerals end,
suffering ends,
spiritual warfare ends.
Salvation is not complete merely at conversion.
There is coming glorification.
Ephesians 5:27
Christ will present the Church:
glorious,
spotless,
holy,
without blemish.
Think about that.
The Church today may appear weak, persecuted, imperfect.
But Christ is preparing a glorious Bride.
Real-Life Example
A bride preparing for her wedding eagerly anticipates the arrival of the groom.
She does not prepare with dread.
She prepares with excitement.
Likewise, the Church should live anticipating Christ’s return.
The believer’s future is not judgment.
It is reunion.
John 17
Jesus prayed that believers would one day be with Him and behold His glory.
What an incredible truth.
Heaven is not merely golden streets.
Heaven is Jesus.
The greatest reward of eternity is not mansions, crowns, or beauty.
It is seeing Christ face to face.
Revelation and Eternal Glory
The unsaved face eternal separation from God.
But believers have eternal hope.
The Christian story ends in resurrection, glory, and everlasting joy.
That is why believers can endure suffering now.
This present world is temporary.
Glory is eternal.
Never outgrow the Gospel.
Even mature believers must continually remember:
Christ died for me,
Christ redeemed me,
Christ forgave me.
When guilt and condemnation attack your mind, do not stare at your failures.
Look again to Calvary.
Remind yourself daily:
“My salvation rests on Christ’s finished work.”
2. KEEP LOOKING TO CHRIST DAILY
Victory over sin comes through abiding in Jesus.
Before starting your day:
seek Christ in prayer,
meditate on Scripture,
surrender your thoughts and desires.
Do not merely visit Jesus on Sundays.
Walk with Him daily.
A distracted believer becomes spiritually weak.
A Christ-centered believer grows strong.
3. KEEP LOOKING FOR CHRIST’S RETURN
Live with eternal perspective.
When suffering, trials, and disappointments come, remember:
This world is not your final home.
Let eternity shape your priorities.
Spend your life on what matters forever.
Jesus is revealed in all three looks.
At the cross, He is the Lamb of God.
In Heaven, He is our Great High Priest.
In the future, He is the coming King.
He saves completely:
from the penalty of sin,
from the power of sin,
and one day from the presence of sin.
The entire Bible points to Jesus.
Every sacrifice anticipated Him.
Every promise finds fulfillment in Him.
Every hope rests in Him.
Church, lift your eyes.
Stop staring only at:
your failures,
your fears,
your wounds,
your circumstances.
Look to Jesus.
Look to the cross where mercy triumphed over judgment.
Look to the throne where Christ intercedes for you right now.
Look to the skies because the King is coming again.
The world offers temporary pleasure.
Christ offers eternal life.
The world gives anxiety.
Christ gives peace.
The world fades away.
Christ reigns forever.
Do not live earthbound when Heaven has called you upward.
You are redeemed by blood.
Sustained by grace.
Filled by the Spirit.
Guarded by Christ.
And destined for glory.
Declare boldly:
“I will look to Christ in every season.
When I fail, I will look to the cross.
When I struggle, I will look to the throne.
When I suffer, I will look toward eternity.
Jesus is my Savior,
Jesus is my strength,
Jesus is my hope,
and Jesus is my coming King.”
Amen.