Take Aim

“If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time” (Zig Ziglar).

“Many people have a good aim in life, but for some reason they never pull the trigger” (unknown).

“Goals are funny things. They don’t work unless you do” (unknown).

“Goals are like automobiles, they won’t run by themselves except downhill” (unknown).

“It concerns us to know the purpose we seek in life, for then, like archers aiming at a definite mark, we shall be more likely to attain what we want” (Aristotle).

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s heaven for?” (Robert Browning).

Philippians 3:12-14 – “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 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.”

Hebrews 12:1,2 – “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The hunter takes careful aim at his target before pulling the trigger. The captain of a ship charts his journey before leaving his homeport. The golfer will line up his putt before stepping over the ball. The basketball player takes careful aim on the rim before raising the ball to shoot. Likewise, the Christian must take careful aim on heaven if he ever hopes of reaching the eternal resting place.

It has been said that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (John 14:1-3). The question is this: what are we doing to prepare? Are we aiming at following    Jesus Christ? Are we aiming at following God’s word? Are we aiming at spending eternity in Heaven? Are we aiming at living a life of Christian service? Are we aiming at loving our fellow man enough to take the Gospel to him?

Where are we directing our aim? For many of us, life consists of hard work, activities with our families, school events, financial concerns, home improvement, and various social events. Do we take the time each day to make sure that the actions we take are ones which are focused on and aimed at Christian living? If someone were to ask about your financial plans for the future, would you have an answer? What about educational plans? Or career plans? Most of us would answer in the affirmative. But what if you were asked what steps you were taking to make sure you were growing in Christian service and were improving your life every day, conforming to and being transformed by the word (Romans 12:1,2). What if you were asked if you had plans and were following through on your plans to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)? Would you be able to answer with a resounding “YES”? 

Let us take aim at the study of God’s word daily, adapting our lives to His will. Let us take aim at putting the lessons learned into practice in our lives. Let us take aim at teaching the truth of God’s word with our mouths and by the example we set. Let us take aim on becoming what God would have us to be.