Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

What Is Your Goal?

An unknown author said, “In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.” Everyone can achieve the goals they set for themselves. When a man has no goals, he will always reach what he has aimed at. Some goals take longer to attain but the purpose is not so much the goal but the journey that takes a person to that goal. Climbing a mountain may seem to be an impossible dream but if a man seeks to reach the top, his character will be forged in the spirit of the attempt. Even if he does not reach the top of Everest, his life is changed because of the purpose he possessed attempting the goal. The reality is that most people have no goals and they aimlessly go through life achieving little and having nothing to hope for.  

There are many blessings for the child of God in Christ. One of the joys for the Christian is the ability to lead a goal-oriented life in service to others and God. The apostle Paul was an extraordinary worker for the kingdom of God. His life is a pattern of a person driven by a single goal and the fortitude to seek nothing else in life but that goal. Paul’s goal was to reach the end of his life and to receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, called him to seek. His highest desire was eternal salvation. Every day of his life was tuned into the cause of grace, the purpose of the gospel, and the building of his character to imitate Jesus Christ. He had a goal. There were many things in his past that could hinder his journey because as Saul the persecutor, he had violently sought to destroy the church of Christ. Those things were put behind him as he enjoyed the forgiveness of a loving Father. He pressed forward with a purposed vitality of a certain goal promised by a faithful Lord.

Paul lived with a goal and that changed his life. His goal was to please God. He was not concerned about the praises of men and his preaching reflected Christ crucified and nothing else. In his ministry, he sought to live a quiet life and to work diligently in the cause of Christ. His aim was measured by the daily goals he set for himself to be an example to others. He left an example for Christians to follow. The child of God must have goals to work toward the goal of eternal life. Like Paul, life must be measured by the desire to please God, showing no concern for the whims of men and to live quiet lives filled with godliness and righteousness. This cannot be done if the heart is not focused on those goals.

Michelangelo said, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Too often the Christian has no goal in life and meagerly serves God at the minimum. Bible study becomes humdrum, worship is boring and there is little joy in the life of the Christian. Why? There are no goals. When life has no goals – those goals are always met! Make it your aim to put aside anything that hinders you from accomplishing growing in Christ and longing for eternal life. Your life will change incredibly. What is your goal?