But with perfect spiritual eyesight, he looked beyond them to see the reward of being elevated to immortal life for his course of integrity. Then as Messianic King, he would have the privilege of lifting afflicted humankind out of its debased condition back to the perfection Jehovah had originally purposed. Keeping his eye focused on these invisible future prospects helped him maintain joy in godly service despite the tribulations he saw from day to day. Paul later wrote: “For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Hebrews 12:2.

In speaking about what enabled Jesus to endure, Paul also pointed out the course for us when he wrote: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:1, 2) Yes, to run the Christian course successfully and joyfully, we must look beyond the things immediately before us. But how do we “look intently” at Jesus, and what will it do for us?

For one thing, in 1914, Jesus was installed as King of God’s Kingdom, and he rules from heaven. All of this, of course, is invisible to our physical eyes. Yet, if we “look intently” at Jesus, our spiritual eyesight will help us to see that he is now poised to take action to bring about the end of the present wicked system of things and the banishment of Satan and his demonic hordes into bonds of inactivity. Looking still further, our spiritual vision will reveal the wonderful new world in which “death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”—Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-3; 21:4.

So, then, instead of being burdened down by the temporary tribulations we may have to face each day, why not focus our gaze upon the things that are eternal? With eyes of faith, why not look beyond the sickness and the greed on this polluted earth to see a paradise filled with healthy, happy, and caring people? Why not look beyond our blemishes, both physical and spiritual, and see ourselves freed of them forever by the merit of Christ’s ransom sacrifice? Why not look beyond the carnage left behind by war, crime, and violence and see newly resurrected ones being instructed in the peace and righteousness of Jehovah?

In addition, to “look intently” at Jesus would also include focusing our spiritual eyesight on what the Kingdom, though invisible, has already accomplished among God’s people on earth: unity, peace, love, brotherly affection, and spiritual prosperity. One Christian woman in Germany, after seeing the video United by Divine Teaching, wrote: “The video will help me increasingly to keep in mind that so many Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world are at this very moment loyally serving Jehovah—and this despite public reaction. How precious is our brotherly unity in a world of violence and hatred!”

Do you too “see” Jehovah, Jesus, the faithful angels, and millions of fellow Christians standing at your side? If so, you will not become overly concerned with “the anxiety of this system of things” that could bog you down in discouragement and cause you to become “unfruitful” in Christian service. (Matthew 13:22) So “look intently” at Jesus by focusing your spiritual eyes on God’s established Kingdom and its blessings, both present and future.