The Tragedy of Broken Focus
Part 4
by Dr. John Tetsola

Last month we examined some additional benefits of focused vision, as portrayed in the lives of Bartimaeus and Solomon. We mentioned that Bartimaeus threw off and laid aside his beggar's coat, signifying his refusal to identify with his blindness. Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles, thus Bartimaeus cast aside everything that identified with his present condition for he was focused on Jesus and expected a change. Additionally we said that Solomon asked God for the one thing he needed most-the right focus and perspective to lead the people of God, and God was so impressed that He granted him great wisdom and also gave Solomon everything that he didn't ask for. Now let's examine the tragedy of broken focus as exemplified in the life of the same king Solomon who was once focused and blessed.

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.  1 Kings 11: 3-4

Watch the tragedy here with the same king Solomon who was once focused and blessed. All of a sudden, the once focused king had his focus broken, for Solomon had a woman problem. The Bible says that they led his heart away from the Lord. In Solomon's old age, they broke his focus and turned his heart to worship their gods. How sad his end was because of broken focus. And this is the danger for every one of us. Always remember this: Nothing has the potential or power to break your focus unless you're married and connected to it. As you begin to pursue vision and become focused, be very careful what and who you entertain and embrace, because they have the potential to break your focus and cause you to abandon your pursuit. Check every connection and relationship in your life, and make sure they are adding to and not subtracting from where you are going. The seven hundred wives were no addition to Solomon's ministry. They were a subtraction and a distraction.

The Blessings of Right Connections

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverb 13:20

In order to remain focused in our pursuit, determine to identify with people going in the same direction that you are going. Find successful and anointed people who love God, for who you identify with is important to your focus. It is not about color, culture, gender or race. It is about vision. When you spot a vision that you can identify with, connect with that vision whether the visionary is white or black. Know your spiritual bloodline and then locate your tribe. You are not called to connect with everybody and every ministry. God divinely links you with certain people, and as you follow your assignment He gives you favor and resources, for His favor follows your assignment and you're bound to be blessed by Him.

When you lose your focus you're finished. When you lose your dream and purpose in life, you lose it because you lost focus. And when you get to this point, you are finished. When your marriage, church, ministry, or team loses focus, then you're through. When you lose focus you lose purpose and vision. When Alexander the Great had vision and focus he conquered the then known world. When he lost his focus, he could not conquer a liquor bottle. When David had vision and focus, he conquered the giant Goliath. When he allowed that focus to be broken by a woman named Bathsheba, he could not conquer his own lust. When Samson had vision and focus, he won every battle he fought. When he lost that focus, he could not conquer Delilah. When Peter had vision and focus, he could preach on the day of Pentecost and three thousand received salvation. But when his focus was broken, he could not admit that he was a disciple of Jesus to a teenage maiden.

Embrace the New Season

If we can change our focus, we can change our failures and obtain fresh new direction for our future. If you can remain focused, you can reach your destiny. Your focus or the lack thereof will either cause you to live by your faith, or by the consequences of your doubt. What is it that is breaking your focus? Is it the pain of a past hurt or the regret of a failure? Is it the inability to handle money? Perhaps it's chronic sickness, or the fear of failure, insecurity or inferiority. Whatever the reason, it's futile to remain in the past. The Bible says to forget the past and remember not the former things, for when you do, the past has the power to lure you to the place of pain, stagnation and depression. Let go of your past, because it is in your way. Every time you look at your past, be aware that you are looking at something that you cannot change. You cannot go far and accomplish vision by looking in the rear view mirror of regret. You can't change the past, but you can better your future by learning from the mistakes of the past. The good news is that you can have a fresh start and determine in your heart starting today that you will not allow your focus to be broken anymore. Learn to live life large with focus and vision.

by Dr. John A. Tetsola