Maintaining the Focus (2 of 5)

Maintaining our focus on the things which count most for this life and the eternity to come is our continuing challenge. Yesterday we noted a good way to begin the day in order to provide a focus to carry us through. Since our focus is often challenged with being drawn so many different directions, we must be diligent in centering our focus on Christ and the hope of an eternity with Him. With our life properly centered we will be assisted in keeping everything else in perspective. However, if we lose that center we can quickly find ourselves beginning to wobble and veer off course.

Many aim at nothing and hit it with marvelous accuracy. We need a goal, but it must be the right goal. As you focus on school studies you may have career goals in mind. If you are already in a career you may have promotion or even retirement plans in view. But whatever the goals might be, how do they fit in relation to the final goal of heaven? Are the intermediary goals steps toward the heavenward goal or do they lead another direction?

Like Paul, we must keep our eye on the ultimate goal, as he stated...
“(12) Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (13) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. BUT ONE THING I DO: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.” ( Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

“ONE THING I DO”; a singular focus. That is what helped Paul keep on track. When we were baptized, having been united with Christ, we did pass from “death to life.” ( John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) However, that does not mean we have crossed the finish line. Like Paul, we must continue to keep “straining forward to what lies ahead.” Knowing the prize was promised on the other side of the finish line he would not be deterred from pressing on toward the goal.

With so many things to do we must be sure we have not dropped our focus from the ONE THING we need most to do; and that is to keep the ultimate goal of heaven in view. The things of yesterday cannot be allowed to impede and the busy tasks of today cannot be permitted to come between us and that final goal. The urgent stuff of life must not be allowed to deter us from the important stuff. Of all the things we do, this ONE THING we dare not neglect. May we keep the heavenward goal in focus so that all the other things we do will remain in proper relation to it. The runner who looks back usually stumbles. Let us diligently press on with our eye fixed on the goal.

Have a great day WITH FOCUS CENTERED ON THE HEAVENWARD GOAL!
Carl

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