Losing Sight of the Real Goal

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 Samuel 3:1

Even after Saul’s death, the war between Israel and Judah continued. Everyone took sides over their petty differences and faced off, keeping the battle running for many years. By doing so, they were thwarting God’s plans for their nation. Their goal as a people was to take the land for God, to drive out the idolaters, the Canaanites, and to establish God’s nation in Israel. But they allowed selfish interests and differences of opinion to get in the way… and it brought God’s plan to a grinding halt while they fought it out. In the end, God’s purpose was accomplished, of course, but it would have gone so much more smoothly if the people of Israel had put their petty differences aside and kept their real goal in focus.

Throughout history – and still today – we see exactly the same thing happening. Our purpose as the body of Christ is three-fold – to glorify God with our every thought, word and action, to worship Him with all our hearts, and all our minds, and all our might, and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to a lost world. And yet… far too many times… we allow our petty differences to get in the way. Denominations deride each other. Whole churches are split because two factions can’t agree on something, and generally that “something” is quite petty in the eternal scheme of things. Personal disagreements have over and over again caused one person to leave a church rather than have to be confronted with the other person every Sunday. To a world full of lost people, there are times when we Christians don’t look much different from any other people in the world. The beautiful vision of Jesus is obliterated by our bickering and slandering and fighting – all because we lose sight of our common goal.

No matter what happens in your church or your personal life or in the world – don’t lose sight of the common goal. A world full of lost people needs to see Jesus. Don’t block their view.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

Bonnie Ricks is a certified Christian counselor, speaker and writer. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DogwoodMinistries and become a Fan!