Which Way Do You Face? Choosing God in a World of Distractions

In a world full of voices demanding your attention, make the choice to face God first.

I've been thinking a lot lately about direction—specifically, which way we face in our lives. This reflection was sparked by Lindsay Robbins' powerful conference talk, "Which Way Do You Face?" It's a question that cuts to the heart of our faith journey and challenges us to examine our priorities.

The First Great Commandment

Jesus taught that the first and great commandment is to love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. There's profound wisdom in the ordering of these commandments. Before we love our neighbor, before we serve in our communities, before we navigate the complexities of modern life—we must first love God.

This ordering isn't arbitrary. It's foundational. When we face God first, everything else in our lives falls into proper alignment.

But what does it really mean to "face God"?

Facing God means that His commandments take precedence over social pressures. It means that when cultural trends push against divine truths, we stand firm in what we know to be right. It means that our decisions, both big and small, are made with our relationship with Him as the primary consideration.

The Compassion Trap

One of the most powerful insights from Robbins' talk is the idea that compassion can sometimes become a snare. That might sound strange at first—after all, isn't compassion a Christlike attribute?

Yes, absolutely. But compassion divorced from truth isn't really compassion at all.

True compassion doesn't mean affirming choices that lead away from God's plan of happiness. True compassion means loving someone enough to encourage repentance and growth. It means seeing their divine potential and helping them live up to it.

Christ Himself was the perfect example of this balance. He showed immense compassion to the woman taken in adultery, protecting her from those who would stone her. But He also lovingly admonished her to "go, and sin no more." His compassion was never separate from truth.

The Fear of Men

One of the greatest challenges to facing God is our natural tendency to fear what others think of us. This fear of men—of judgment, rejection, or criticism—can cause us to compromise our faith in subtle ways.

"Do you fear God or do you fear men more?" This pointed question from Robbins' talk invites serious self-reflection. When posting on social media, do we hold back our testimony for fear of negative comments? When discussing controversial topics, do we soften God's commandments to appear more accepting? When faced with moral dilemmas, do we look to societal norms or to divine law?

It takes courage to face the perils of standing for truth in a world increasingly hostile to it. Yet this courage is exactly what discipleship requires of us.

Marriage as a Mirror

I've found that marriage serves as a powerful mirror for this principle. When my spouse and I face God together, our relationship flourishes. We become instruments in each other's growth toward holiness.

But when we turn away from God—when we prioritize comfort over commandments, or when we enable rather than lovingly encourage—we do each other a disservice. We might avoid difficult conversations in the name of peace, but true peace comes only through alignment with God's will.

Christ-like love is never separate from adherence to commandments. We can be kind, compassionate, and accepting while still upholding the truths that God has revealed.

Standing Peculiar

In many ways, facing God in today's world means being peculiar. It means making choices that others might not understand. It means standing apart when everyone else is going along.

But this peculiarity is precisely what we're called to embrace. As we face God first and foremost, we find that our lives take on greater meaning. We discover a happiness that isn't dependent on social approval or cultural trends. We build relationships grounded in eternal principles rather than temporary convenience.

And most importantly, we find ourselves growing closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, whose love and approval matter infinitely more than the fleeting praise of the world.

A Daily Choice

"Don't ever forget which way you face." This simple admonition serves as a powerful daily reminder. Each morning, we have the opportunity to set our compass—to determine which way we'll face throughout the day ahead.

Will we face the shifting sands of public opinion? Will we face the approval of peers? Or will we face God, whose love is constant and whose commandments are given for our eternal happiness?

The choice is ours, and it's one we make not just once, but continuously throughout our lives.

In a world that encourages us to face in a thousand different directions, choose to face God. It's in His light that we find our true selves and our eternal purpose.

​Stay peculiar, my friends.