The Goal of Life

Setting goals is a customary practice of mine. I discovered pretty quickly that goal setting often makes the difference in whether you succeed or fail. I have learned that every successful accomplishment begins with a goal or a plan. In the third chapter of Philippians, Apostle Paul names the goal of life, what all believers should focus on and work toward, and that is to know Christ. Paul was writing from prison to the church in Philippi in order to encourage them and remind them of what their focus should be. First, Paul gives the church a warning from his own experience. He tells them to beware of those who claim to know Christ because of their pedigree. People like these claim to know Christ, but in fact, they are enemies of the cross. Paul calls them dogs, evil workers, and the false circumcision. They are people who work against God by practicing a fake religion. He reminds them to be people who are the true circumcision, who worship in the spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. Paul happened to be speaking from firsthand knowledge. If anyone could relate to a fake religion, it would be Paul. You see, Paul had the pedigree. He was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, a persecutor of the church, and was blameless in keeping the law. However, he was lacking. He had no relationship with Christ. He had successfully kept the law, but he had failed in knowing Christ.

Many people today are in the same situation. They put their faith in being a Methodist, or a Baptist, or a member of any other denominational label. They keep all the rules that are outlined by their affiliated group. They attend church and may even do good works. They have the pedigree. However, just like Paul, they are lacking. They know about Christ, but they do not know him. Just like Paul, a person must come to the realization that their pedigree has no value, and that only an authentic relationship with Christ is valuable. Fake religion pursues practices. Real religion pursues a person.

Paul's conversion came when Jesus spoke to him as he was walking on the road to Damascus. Because of his conversion, Paul began to pursue the person of Jesus Christ. His goal was no longer a pedigree, but a person. He discovered that knowing Christ in a personal way was far better than following rules. As Paul's relationship with Christ developed, he began to experience a power that he had never known before. Paul began to know the power of Christ's resurrection. As believers, we gain much power and experience many benefits as a result of our personal relationship with Christ. The first benefit is an on-going relationship with Christ. Who would turn down a personal relationship with the God who created all things, who raised himself from the dead, and who has provided eternal life for those who know him? Another benefit is being a member of a church family, both a local congregation, and the world-wide family of believers. The relationship a believer has with other believers is invaluable. From other believers, one can be strengthened, comforted, and encouraged. Life is hard, and believers need each other. Lastly, believers who know Christ enjoy the fellowship of his suffering. This may be a strange concept, enjoying the fellowship of his suffering. What is suffering? Suffering is pain felt from loss. Suffering is, more than not, a conduit to the heart of God. If we heed Paul's message, and we count everything as loss except knowing Christ, then wouldn't the loss of worldly things be worth knowing Christ? The value of knowing Christ transcends anything the world can offer. Additionally, to loose what the world offers means that we gain more of Christ.

The question we must ask is this. How badly do we want to know Christ? Can we know him without counting the things of the world as loss? Are we willing to stop putting our trust in our own flesh and the things of the world? Are we willing to pursue the person of Jesus Christ instead of the pedigree of who we have become in our own efforts? Pray that God will show people the incredible worth of knowing Christ.

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