What is the Danger of Taking Your Eyes Off of Jesus? (Part 4)
Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.
We are in the midst of a study on the danger of taking our eyes off of Jesus. So far, we have examined the examples of:
They took their eyes off of Christ and focused more on the things of this world (difficulties, money, and “the world").
In this article, we want to study about a man who left a deceitful life to become a Christian only to fall back and sin.
Context of Acts 8.
If you have your Bible, please open to Acts 8. In this great chapter (which happens to be this writer’s favorite chapter in the New Testament), we learn about several conversions even after a terrible time of persecution.
The chapter opens with a review of what happened to Stephen who became the first Christian martyr having been stoned for preaching the Gospel. A young man named Saul (who we affectionally know as Paul the apostle) at the time was anti-Christianity. He persecuted Christians “making havoc of the church dragging off men and women to prison” (Acts 8:1-3).
However, the church grew stronger as “those that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Philip, a man of God, went to the city of Samaria and “preached Christ” (Acts 8:5). Among those who heard him was Simon the Sorcerer.
Simon’s Conversion.
Simon practiced sorcery or magic in an effort to deceive people for monetary gain. He “astonished the people of Samaria claiming that he was someone great” (Acts 8:9). People thought that he was of God, but when they heard Philip preach and saw the genuine miracles he performed, “both men and women were baptized” (Acts 8:12).
They responded properly to the Gospel of Christ having heard the truth (Rom. 10:17), repenting of sins (Acts 2:38; 3:19), and being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:41). Consequently, they were added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47).
Simon himself believed and was baptized (Acts 8:13). He continued with Philip and was amazed at the true power of God! It is important for us to grasp the fact that he was a Christian having put on Christ in baptism. This information is helpful when we notice the following:
“Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me” (Acts 8:14-24).
Simon’s Sin.
Simon, as a Christian, sinned and was in danger of falling away (“once saved, always saved” is a false doctrine)! He took his eyes off of Jesus and gazed upon the potential of being able to truly amaze people by “buying” the gift of passing on miraculous gifts. This ability was given to the apostles.
Peter told Simon that his money would perish with him! In fact, Peter revealed to Simon that his heart was not right with God and instructed him to repent of his sin. To Simon’s credit, he asked for prayers to be forgiven and restored (Jas. 5:16; 1 John 1:7-10).
So many today, even those who are Christians, take their eyes off of Jesus and focus more on what is in it for them. If we serve the Lord for personal gain and what we can get rather than what we can give in service to Him then we have missed the true meaning of Christianity!
Simon took his eyes off of Jesus and became selfish.
May we learn the important lesson of keeping our eyes fixed on Christ that our hearts might be right with Him!
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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