Goal
When a child makes a goal at a soccer game, we cheer. We stand up, shout out loud, clap our hands, and cry out their name. The goal is very important; making enough of them wins the game. But in the game, making goals is not a straightforward or easy task. There are people in the way—defenders—who are trying to keep you from making a goal. And there is that final obstacle, the goalie, who will do everything in his or her power to stop the ball from going in. They'll even throw their entire body on the ball in order to stop it if they can. The goal is so important to your child's team that the other team will do most anything to stop it.
As it is in soccer, so it is in life.
The goal of the Christian life, in the Wesleyan understanding, is sanctification. Some folks seem to think that "getting saved" (what we call "justification") is the goal, that once you have chosen to follow Jesus and made him your master, you're done. You can just skate on by until you slide into heaven. But the Bible is clear that there is more life to be lived. We are constantly told to grow in faith, in grace, to live holy lives, to take on the character of Christ—all of which can be summed up in the word "sanctification." That word basically means "Jesus making us like himself."
It's a hard road. It's a difficult process. It can make us want to give up, to quit sometimes, because we see such little progress day to day. Unlike a soccer game, where you can easily see the progression of the ball down the field toward (or away from) the goal, progress in the Christian life is measured in years and seasons rather than minutes. So, when we come to Wesley's sixteenth question, it's natural to feel discouraged. The question is this: Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful? I nearly titled this blog simply, "Yes," because that's the answer I have to give if I am honest. From time to time, in myriad ways, I am all of those things, so far from the goal that it makes my head spin. These behaviors are the "defenders" who try to keep me from my goal...and sometimes I let them.
Perspective is important when we come to questions like this. Maybe we should ask the question this way: am I less these things this year than I was last year? Am I less these things today than I was yesterday? Have I, in some way this week, become more like Jesus?
This question, to me, highlights the difference between the Christian and the world, and puts a spotlight on the goal. As Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12).
And I look forward to and long for that day when I hear the Father cry out my name, stand up, clap and shout, "Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaalllllll!"
As it is in soccer, so it is in life.
The goal of the Christian life, in the Wesleyan understanding, is sanctification. Some folks seem to think that "getting saved" (what we call "justification") is the goal, that once you have chosen to follow Jesus and made him your master, you're done. You can just skate on by until you slide into heaven. But the Bible is clear that there is more life to be lived. We are constantly told to grow in faith, in grace, to live holy lives, to take on the character of Christ—all of which can be summed up in the word "sanctification." That word basically means "Jesus making us like himself."
It's a hard road. It's a difficult process. It can make us want to give up, to quit sometimes, because we see such little progress day to day. Unlike a soccer game, where you can easily see the progression of the ball down the field toward (or away from) the goal, progress in the Christian life is measured in years and seasons rather than minutes. So, when we come to Wesley's sixteenth question, it's natural to feel discouraged. The question is this: Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful? I nearly titled this blog simply, "Yes," because that's the answer I have to give if I am honest. From time to time, in myriad ways, I am all of those things, so far from the goal that it makes my head spin. These behaviors are the "defenders" who try to keep me from my goal...and sometimes I let them.
Perspective is important when we come to questions like this. Maybe we should ask the question this way: am I less these things this year than I was last year? Am I less these things today than I was yesterday? Have I, in some way this week, become more like Jesus?
This question, to me, highlights the difference between the Christian and the world, and puts a spotlight on the goal. As Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12).
And I look forward to and long for that day when I hear the Father cry out my name, stand up, clap and shout, "Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaalllllll!"
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