The Age of Distraction aptly describes the times in which we live, where distractions constantly draw, break, or divert our attention from one focus to another. These distractions, whether a sudden noise, a demanding child, or a ringing phone, can disrupt progress and create diversions that turn us aside from our purpose. Such diversions, akin to feints in warfare or sports, are designed to draw attention away, leaving us vulnerable to more significant threats. In this world, under the influence of satan, God has permitted an explosion of mechanical and electronic knowledge, testing our focus on His truth. He desires to see if we truly love His way of life and whether we will discipline ourselves against the easily accessible, pleasurable, yet spiritually unprofitable distractions that surround us. These distractions contribute to confusion and a great deal of movement among people seeking clarity, yet often finding none. The warning given through Daniel highlights that satan creates a world of attractive, easily reached distractions that keep our minds busy and pleased but produce little toward accomplishing what we are called to do. This entire world of appealing busyness serves as a massive feint by the great dragon to divert us from the spiritual war being waged against our futures. We must choose to discipline ourselves, ensuring that our love for God surpasses any attachment to the distracting elements of this world, as love for both cannot exist equally within us.

Americans are busy people, full of activities and plans to be active. We demand instant everything because, if we have to wait, some activity must be curtailed, and that messes up our plans. Many processed foods are instant because, in our busyness, we hardly have time to eat. Our phones make communication instant and timesaving with family members, coworkers, and others. God Himself prophesies of this frenetic society in Daniel 12:4, indicating that many shall run to and fro, implying a great deal of activity with a psychological connotation of being at wit's end or searching anxiously. The picture painted is of a world gone mad with ceaseless activity, worry, frustration, and loss of direction. Perhaps we should ask ourselves if we have joined this mayhem and become distracted from what is truly important. Have the cares of this life made us anxious and steered us toward misguided goals? Maybe we should sit down in a quiet place to analyze our priorities and motivations, reorganizing our days to place emphasis on the things that really count.

God's eternity stands as the answer to our struggle with time, highlighting the brevity of our lives. We must make the best use of an unknown amount of time, and the first step is to set our priorities right. Jesus established the highest priority goal, urging us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that the main goal determines the preparations, efforts, and zeal for reaching it. Involvement in the cares of this life and riches, though neutral, may be easily overdone and cause great spiritual loss. Even necessary and good things can become enemies when overdone, crowding out the most important spiritual interests. Jesus warns against allowing other things to control life, as a lack of commitment to the highest priority often lets secondary priorities steal time from the primary one. He urges single-mindedness, focusing attention on the highest priority with devotion to purpose and undivided loyalty. A single-minded person pursuing God's Kingdom and His righteousness will have moral healthiness and simple, unaffected goodness. Time is priceless, and we must concentrate our efforts on getting control of it, restricting our activities to a few, and, with God, be the master of our awesome destiny.