The Goal Post Of Life

THE GOAL POST OF LIFE

I first wrote this, several years ago, when I had just overcome a bout of sickness. I was tired, fearful, confused and lost, despite the seemingly huge success in ministry. I was full of doubt and unbelief, and had unfulfilled expectations, desires and dreams. I felt a sense of loss of purpose and life seemed meaningless, of no point, and had no fulfilment.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-9 NLT – “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.”

It felt like I was on a treadmill, working hard, getting tired and weary but going nowhere. This was the case, even though I had achieved much in the ministry and many look up to me. Thoughts of eternity plagued me, as someone I knew very well had just died. My faith was shaken, as I began to ponder and wonder, is this what life is all about? Vanity of vanities, all is vanity! Meaningless, everything is meaningless!

No one knew or understood what I was going through, not even my husband, family or close friends. To everyone, I was doing well, and successful, but I was struggling within me. In the end, I took a sabbatical for six months, to try and sort myself out.

Whilst driving home one day, I suddenly cried out to God, “Lord, it appears You’ve changed the goal post, and I don’t know which direction to play!” WOW!!!

The Goal Post

What is a goal post or goal? A goal is a desired result a person envisions, plans and commits to achieve within a timeframe. A goal is a guide post that determines our actions and activities. In sports, a goal post determines the direction, course and length of play; and in many sports a goal is the only method of scoring. The goal determines whether we win or lose.

As such, it felt like there was no longer a goal to my life; even though I was still playing – living it and going through the daily ‘rituals’ – there seemed to be no purpose and I was not getting the results I wanted or had anticipated.

The Goal Post Hadn’t Moved

Upon much reflection and prayer, I soon realised that the Goal Post had not moved. The problem was with me – I had taken my eyes off the Goal Post! I had been playing the game of life without keeping my eyes on the Goal. I had become more engrossed with playing life, than in attaining the goal of life. For me it was ministry, for you it might be a job and career, or your family, or your business, etc.

I was playing alright, but missing the target and had wearied myself in the process. Life was becoming vain, and like Solomon I could say, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity! Meaningless!”

The Capsule Of Time

Time is a capsule – a window of opportunity within eternity. Everything within this capsule is unpredictable, unstable, shakeable and subject to constant change, aging and decay. Careers, marriage and family, relationships, education, health, houses, cars, economic and financial systems and structures are all unpredictable, unstable and constantly changing.

Yet, we make these our goals and play the game of life according to them; and seek to find security in them. We grow old, whether we want to or not, and death is inevitable. This means that if you and I live our lives without a perception of eternity, our constantly changing lives and everything in them become meaningless, futile, pointless and useless.

The Goal Post of Life – Jesus Christ, the Word of God

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” – Isaiah 40:8

 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8

Unlike the components of our daily lives, Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the same yesterday today and forever. He is predictable, stable, unshakeable and not subject to change, aging and decay.

Jesus Christ is the same in character – He is love, merciful, gracious, patient, longsuffering and full of compassion. He is the same in ability – He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above our expectations. He is the same in power, authority and strength. Jesus Christ is the same in truth – Indeed He is the Truth, and in Him there is no shadow of turning, lie or falsehood. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is the steadfast, immovable and unchanging Goal Post of life. Therefore, all my other ‘goals’ must fit within Christ; He must be the Goal Post of my life!

The Way, The Truth And The Life

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” – John 10:9

Jesus Christ is the only Way to God. Jesus Christ is the Perfect and Absolute Truth of God. Jesus Christ is the Eternal Life of God. He is the Way of Life, the Truth of Life and, indeed, the Life of Life!

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die,” – John 11:25

With Jesus as our Goal Post, death ceases to be an end, but rather the beginning of new and eternal life. The words of Isaac Newton resonate in my heart, for Jesus Christ is, indeed, “My Lord, my Life, my Way, My End!”

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to ask you a two-part question “How are you playing the game of life and what is your goal post?” The answer is crucial, for when the capsule of time bursts, your response is what will determine whether you win or lose in eternity.

Philippians 3:12-14 – “Not that I have already attained,[c] 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.”

May Jesus Christ be the Goal Post that is determining the course of your life now; and may you end up in Him.

Apostle Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace

CEO, Women In Tune