All Eyes on the Son: Fixing Our Focus on What Truly Matters
Pastor Victoria Sowell
When life feels heavy, uncertain, or out of control, it’s easy to turn toward what feels safe — routines, relationships, habits, or even nostalgia. We crave something steady, something we can manage. But there’s a deeper invitation beyond control — to fix our gaze on the One who holds everything together. Click the link above for the full message.
This article explores the profound truths from Hebrews 1 and 2 — a call to turn our eyes from what’s temporary and place them fully on the Son of God, who reveals the fullness of who God is, sustains all things, and offers freedom from the cycle of striving and fear.
The Illusion of Control
We live in a culture that glorifies control. It feels powerful to manage, organize, or predict. But when life unravels, that illusion crumbles fast. We often turn to temporary fixes — the kind that bring comfort for a moment but leave us emptier than before.
Here are a few subtle ways control disguises itself:
Returning to old habits that soothe but don’t heal
Relying too heavily on relationships, gossip, or comparison
Romanticizing the past as if “the good old days” were simpler
Distracting ourselves through scrolling, busyness, or work
Treating faith like a checklist instead of a relationship
Control might make us feel safe for a while, but it never satisfies the soul. The message of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus’ suffering and victory over death have already secured what our control never can — peace, purpose, and freedom.
When we finally loosen our grip, we find that the hands of the Son are stronger than ours ever were.
God’s Final Word: The Son
Hebrews 1 begins with a bold declaration:
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)
For generations, God revealed Himself through prophets, dreams, and laws. Those moments were beautiful, but incomplete — like sketches pointing toward a greater portrait. But then, in Jesus, God spoke once and for all.
He is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). That means Jesus isn’t just a reflection of God — He is God, revealed in full. The relationship between the Father and the Son is inseparable, like the sunlight that cannot exist apart from the sun itself.
Jesus not only created the world but continues to sustain it. When He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven,” that moment symbolized finality. The work of purification was done — no more sacrifices, no more striving for forgiveness.
Our hope no longer depends on our performance but on His completed work. His seated posture in heaven is a permanent declaration: It is finished.
The Greatness of Jesus Above All
The writer of Hebrews continues by comparing Jesus to angels, a topic that may seem distant from modern life. But the comparison matters. In Jewish tradition, angels were awe-inspiring — messengers of God’s presence and power. Yet Hebrews insists that Jesus is greater.
“To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’?” (Hebrews 1:5 NIV)
Jesus is not just a messenger of God’s will; His life is the message. He didn’t come to reinforce old laws but to bring a new covenant — one rooted in relationship, not ritual.
Paul echoes this in Romans 7:6:
“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit.”
Even today, we might not worship angels, but we still fall into the trap of idolizing created things — success, people, comfort, or even ministry itself. Hebrews challenges us to ask: Who do we really worship?
If anything takes the place of Jesus in defining our worth or identity, it has become an idol. Nothing and no one else deserves that throne.
What or Who Do You Worship?
We all worship something. Sometimes it’s clear — other times it’s hidden behind good intentions. The danger lies in confusing the gifts with the Giver. We might seek wisdom, affirmation, or clarity from every possible source, yet overlook the One who holds all truth.
When we put our confidence in anyone or anything besides Jesus, we drift from the very anchor of our souls.
One story shared in this passage tells of someone earnestly searching for truth, reading books, asking advice, and analyzing every angle — until he realized he had looked everywhere except to God Himself.
It’s a reminder that the source of truth isn’t found through endless searching but through surrender. The Son who speaks on behalf of the Father invites us to stop striving and start listening.
Pay Attention: The Danger of Drifting
Hebrews 2 opens with a serious but tender warning:
“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1 NIV)
Drifting rarely feels like rebellion. It’s subtle — a quiet shift of focus. One day you’re close, the next you’re distracted. Like swimming in the ocean, you start right in front of your towel and end up far down the beach without realizing it.
Spiritual drift often begins with distraction and ends with distance. But awareness brings a choice — to keep drifting or to return to where we belong.
If even the message once delivered through angels came with weight and consequence, how much more should we hold onto the truth revealed through the Son?
Our salvation is not a light thing. It’s a miracle we must guard with attention, humility, and devotion.
Getting Back on Track
When life grows busy or faith feels dull, the drift begins. Relationships weaken, habits shift, and the things that once drew us close to God become replaced by lesser loves.
But returning doesn’t start with guilt — it begins with attention. Paying attention means choosing to notice what’s been neglected.
Maybe that’s prayer, community, forgiveness, or trust. When we recognize what’s been lost, God gives us the grace to find our way back.
This isn’t about earning His presence again; it’s about remembering He never left. The same God who calls us back also equips us to return.
The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
Hebrews 2:10 says:
“In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God… should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.”
The Son of God — exalted, glorious, and eternal — entered into suffering. He became fully human, experiencing pain, loss, and temptation. Why? Because real love meets us where we are.
This verse reframes how we see ourselves. We’re not outsiders trying to earn a place at the table. We’re family — sons and daughters brought into glory through Christ.
He’s not ashamed of us. He’s not distant or disappointed. He calls us brothers and sisters, sharing in our humanity to restore our identity.
Jesus, the Merciful and Faithful High Priest
The heart of the Gospel is beautifully captured in Hebrews 2:14–18:
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Jesus didn’t save us from afar. He stepped into our humanity — into weakness, grief, and temptation — to free us from fear and restore us to life.
That’s what makes His priesthood so personal. He’s not just an intercessor; He’s a companion who understands. He’s the Savior who knows what it feels like to be human — tired, tempted, and misunderstood.
Because He suffered, He can help those who suffer. Because He was tempted, He can strengthen those who are tempted. He stands as our merciful and faithful High Priest — the bridge between divine perfection and human brokenness.
Living Without Fear
The fear of death is perhaps the deepest fear of all. It drives so many of our choices, even subconsciously. But through His death, Jesus broke that fear’s grip.
When the Son rose from the grave, He rewrote the story — not just of eternity, but of everyday life. Fear no longer has authority. Anxiety no longer rules. Shame no longer defines.
To live “with all eyes on the Son” is to live from victory, not for it. It’s to wake each day aware that the One who overcame death now lives within us.
And when fear whispers its old lies, we can remind ourselves: He has already gone before me.
When Life Gets Hard, Look Up
When we fix our eyes on what’s failing or uncertain, everything feels impossible. But when we fix our eyes on the Son — the radiance of God’s glory — we find perspective again.
He doesn’t ask us to have it all together. He asks us to keep looking up.
If you feel weary or distant today, this is the invitation:
Come back. Refocus. Let His nearness bring peace again.
Because when our eyes remain on Him, we remember who we are — loved, forgiven, and free.
Action Steps for the Week
Pause before reacting. When you feel the urge to control, take a breath and surrender the situation in prayer.
Pay attention to your drift. Notice the small ways you’ve been distracted or discouraged — and invite God to draw you back.
Worship intentionally. Make time this week to worship Jesus for who He is, not just for what He’s done.
Share your story. Encourage someone else with what God has revealed to you.
Further Reading
“Jesus the Radiance of God’s Glory” – Desiring God
“The Supremacy of Christ in Hebrews” – The Gospel Coalition
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled “Anchored in Faith” from View Church on YouTube.
Explore more teaching resources and Bible studies at www.viewchurch.co/resources.