Someone once said, “I’ll aim at the moon, but will settle for a telephone pole.” Don’t you kind of wonder what they were aiming at?
Sure, I get it. Things don’t always turn out as planned. Like the old Stones song says, “you can’t always get what you want.”
So, does that mean we don’t need to set some standards for ourselves? Set some goals, take aim, try for something better; would all that be a waste of time and energy?
What about our spiritual life? Did God intend it to be a haphazard kind of life? Like a pinball, bouncing from bumper to bumper, getting a few bonus points from time to time, hoping God has good flipper reflexes when we’re about to go out. Is that all God created us for?
No!
He created us on purpose, with a purpose; so He intends for us to live our lives on purpose. Taking aim at life, and all it entails.
Now, before you start getting all frustrated or defensive because you haven’t discovered your “purpose” yet, allow me to have your undivided attention. There isn’t a one of us who has everything figured out. No one, but God, sees the end from the beginning. None of us are really good at focusing on things we cannot see. Right?
But if we would take a moment or two, look at the Word of God, we will discover some things to use as targets; some things we can aim for.
For instance:
“…aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” (2 Corinthians 8:21 ESV)
What is honorable? Something that helps raise others to a higher level. Aim at lifting others higher, not at tearing them down. When we get ready to do or say something, lets ask ourselves, “Will this statement or action help me hit the mark?” Reminds me of something Paul told the Philippians: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9 ESV)
Home or away. Home = Heaven, Away = Earth. Or, whether we’re someplace where people know us, or someplace where we’re a total stranger, our focus, our target, is to please God.
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5 ESV)
The things we tell others to do, or expect others to do, should be focused on love from a pure heart. A pure heart is a heart yielded to Jesus and His way of doing things. That’s our aim.
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)
Aim for restoration; aim for rebuilding, rejuvenating, reestablishing the broken and fallen so they can finish well. Remember, everyone has times when they fail to hit the mark; they shoot at the moon and knock out a streetlight. So take aim for their restoration.
Also, take aim for God’s complete restoration to be completed in us. “He Who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it.”
Take aim. Don’t be frustrated if you miss the mark at times. Just reload, take aim, and keep firing.
Our Helper is close by…
Jan Grace 