Sideshow means any diversion or distraction from the main game. A sideshow distraction is something unimportant that takes your attention away from something more important that is happening at the same time.
A distraction is anything that takes your mind off of what you are supposed to be doing. A distraction can take place in a very short period of time, or it can be something that keeps coming back again and again. Distractions prevents you from giving your full attention to something else.
Satan has a way of distracting us from God's main goal for us. Sometimes we will have the tendency to take our focus off of the prize, which is Jesus, and begin to focus on unimportant and unnecessary things and details. Things that are not an issue or shouldn't be an issue. Just plain stuff. We get caught up in the frivolous of life. Those things that would keep us from doing, seeing, and achieving what the Lord wants for us.
Satan's plan for us is to distract us, to fill our lives with substitutes for real life, to replace our affection for God and the things of God, with affection for the worldly. He knows the earthly things that we like. He knows where we are weakest, and he sets traps for us. In his system of substitution, he uses lies, idols, and deception, using physical things that he has created to pacify the human race. He stands by us, waving any number of gimmicks, toys, and any unnecessary concerns to distract us from the important things of life.
Satan uses a system of false values that God is opposed to, and have us focused on physical realities, the here and now, pleasing the relentless demands of self. He understands the human mind and heart. Charles Spurgeon says, "When Satan cannot catch us with a big sin, he will try a little one. It does not matter to him as long as he catches his fish, what bait he uses. Beware of the beginning of evil, for men who wanted to go right, have turned aside and perished amongst the dark mountains in the wide field of sin."
Some people may have their own definition of what is a distraction. Some people may not see certain things as a distraction, while others do. But distractions keeps us off focused.
The Bible constantly reminds us to stay on focus, "Watch over your heart with all diligence. For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth. And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:23-27).
What does the Lord call a distraction? Anything or distraction that would take your focus off of Him and your relationship with Him. Anything or distraction that would cause you to backslide. Your relationship with God is of the highest priority. Anything that may cause you to stumble or lose focus, is a distraction.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3). We have to stay focused and always keep our eyes on Jesus. Always with Jesus on our minds and in our hearts, because when the trappings of this world catches our attention in any form or way, it is considered a sideshow distraction.
In C. S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters, there are 31 letters Screwtape wrote to Wormwood, to teach him how to distract mankind. Screwtape reminds Wormwood "that mankind thinks that we put things into their minds as distractions, but our best work is done by keeping Godly things out." In his last letter in the book, letter #31, he referred to Wormwood as his poppet and pigsnie.
When we take our minds off God, we lose focus. There are dangers in losing focus. That is why the Bible tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
There are so many types of distractions. Taking your eyes, mind, and heart off the Lord is disastrous. There is only one way to keep from being distracted. How? By keeping your eyes on the prize, Jesus. When you are focused on the Lord, He will become the guiding force of your life. Never allow a day to go by without spending time with the Lord.
If we are not careful, life will crowd Jesus out of our lives. We worry about things we have no control over. Too much worldly stuff will cause us to push Jesus away. It will take the place where God should be. We must make Jesus, the Lord of our lives. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).