Set Your Affection on Things Above: An Analogy

There is a gospel song that goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” It’s a good song, a great message, and the lesson I believe the Lord was trying to teach me this week. I was in the Book of Colossians when Colossians 3:2 jumped off the page. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Then a perfect analogy popped into my mind. Search and rescue dogs are trained to stay on mission and ignore distractions with a key directive from their masters. As Christians, that command is the exact advice we need to do the same.

Search and Rescue Dogs Are on a Mission

Dogs are amazing. Their powerful noses and loving, eager-to-please personalities make them the perfect choice to assist people in emergency situations. They help with locating victims during earthquakes and other natural disasters, and they can sniff out missing persons. Those chosen for this very important job have a special set of skills and must be trained to stay hyper-focused on the task. They don’t have time for chasing squirrels or smelling bushes when lives might be on the line.

Check out this video of a dog trained to give a bark alert. His first trainer stands stoic, arms crossed, while the dog barks for nearly two full minutes. The second trainer then throws toy after toy at the dog while walking closely by him to try to get his attention off the other trainer. At one point, the dog catches a toy and gives it a little shake, but then he is right back on task. Ultimately, not one of the distractions can get this dog’s focus off the first trainer and the reward the dog knows is coming if he can just persevere. Finally, the first trainer relents, uncrosses her arms, and gives the dog his prize: a red toy. The dog joyfully shakes the toy in his mouth while receiving lots of love and pets from the first trainer.

Pretty impressive, right?

Trained to Avoid Distractions

So how are they trained to do this? One method that dog trainers suggest is the “Watch me” method. Dogs are given a command such as “Sit” while a toy is nearby. If the dog obeys the command, it is given a treat. If not, the “Watch me” command is issued to reset the dog’s attention. Once the dog focuses its eyes on the trainer, the trainer gives a treat. Then the “Sit” command is given again with another treat for compliance. Distractions and task difficulty are then increased with a similar method until the dog builds focus. The “Watch me” command is particularly helpful in situations in which the dog may be nervous or fearful.

Christians Are on a Mission

Search and rescue dogs are carefully chosen and trained to do a job. In the same way, Christians have also been chosen and equipped for the mission the Lord has for each of us. And just like the working dogs must stay on task when lives are on the line, the Bible tells us repeatedly not to be distracted by the things of this world. 

When I look at the video of the trainer throwing toys at or near the dog, it reminds me a lot of my life sometimes. I’m just barking and barking doing my best to accomplish the things the Lord has called me to do, and here come the distractions flying by. There are fun distractions like doing things I like to do, taking time to relax, or scrolling on my phone. Then there are more serious and pressing distractions like responsibilities with work or things that need to be done for the holidays. And right in the middle of all of it, I feel that little pull and the reset command. “Watch me.” 

That’s when the Lord wants me to stop what I’m doing and come away with Him to a quiet place. Sometimes it’s because I have become nervous or fearful. Usually, it’s because my priorities need a little readjusting. I have let the flying toys take my interest a little too long and forgotten the ultimate eternal prize yet to be given. Now, that’s not to say that we aren’t allowed to enjoy relaxing times or do the things we like to do or feel need to be done.  What it means is that we should always be aware of our ultimate mission in this life. We should be listening carefully for our Master’s commands.

Bible Verses About Avoiding Distractions

• Seek God’s kingdom first – Matthew 6:33 
• Be spiritually minded and not carnally minded – Romans 8:6-8 
• Press toward the mark for the prize – Philippians 3:14 
• Don’t “entangle” ourselves in the affairs of life – 2 Timothy 2:4 
• Lay aside every weight and sin which threaten us – Hebrews 12:1 
• Be sober and hope to the end for grace – 1 Peter 1:13 

Bible Verses About Focus on Jesus

• Look to the Lord for mercy as a servant looks to a Master – Psalm 123:1-2 
• Stay focused on the right things – Proverbs 4:25 
• Keep our minds on the Lord if we want peace – Isaiah 26:3 
• Look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith – Hebrews 12:2 

Eyes on the Prize

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

Hebrews 11:26

Training search and rescue dogs to keep focused on the mission takes time and patience. Ultimately, though, the trainer must teach the dog that the reward for staying on-point is better than falling for any of the distractions. Just like the dog didn’t waiver from its mission until the first trainer produced the desired red toy, Christians must always live with eternity in mind. We must set our affections on the things above and keep our eyes trained on our Master. Jesus is coming soon, and His reward is with Him. It will all be worth it on that Day.

One More Song

Like stories about dogs? Try What My Dog Taught Me About God’s Timing. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email inbox. You can find that at the upper right of your screen (or at the bottom on a phone). Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud.