Distraction is defined as “A thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.” The thesaurus offers these synonyms: interruption, disturbance, interference, and hindrance. We generally think of distraction as being altogether undesirable, but wait, there is another nuance of this word. The same thesaurus says that distraction can also be described with the words: amusement, entertainment, diversion, recreation and leisure pursuit. While no one likes to be interrupted or disturbed, most consider it quite enjoyable to be distracted by the likes of amusement or entertainment – but these enjoyable diversions may not be so good for us.
Perhaps it would be helpful at some point to consider the damage that enjoyable distraction causes in the realms of education or employment, but the most dangerous effect of distraction is in the realm of the spiritual. People who have no relationship to God can become so distracted by these pleasurable experiences that they never find His truth. Paul speaking to the church at Corinth writes, In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Corinthians 4:4).
Those of us who know the Lord can get so distracted that we take our eyes off of Him. Remember Peter whose faith allowed him to walk on water? Matthew 14:29b-30 tells us, “…when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” He was doing so well – but got distracted.
Dear friend, it is easy to fill our minds with the things that this world has to offer and miss the essential life changing truths of God. We should take the advice of the hymn writer who said, 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.