If you could have one thing, what would it be? I know I said thing, but it doesn't have to be a thing, but anything. I was thinking about this as I was running and meditating on Scripture. Here are some things that people tend to make their pursuit in their lives. Some want to just be happy. They want to live a happy life. These people want to enjoy life. There are others who try to find meaning in life either philosophically or through a particular religion. Life is more than just trying to gain things in this world. They focus on attaining an internal or spiritual purpose. Some others are more practical and seek their way in life by pursuing a job, a career, money, adventure or anything else that brings
them pleasure or satisfaction.
As Christians what is it that we pursue or desire? Some Christians want to be more spiritual, more godly, or another quality. Others want to serve Christ faithfully. Many Christians just want to be "good" by doing what the Bible says or what is expected of them. They attend church faithfully and participate in activity. But what could be the ultimate focus of our life? This question came up about three years ago for me. As I prayed, I asked God to allow me to follow Him, to have my family and to serve others. Today, I thought about it a bit more and narrowed what I desire the most, to a single focus for my life.
But before, I want to share the verse that shows what we often want and where the answer for all of them are found. It is John 14:6. A verse so well-known. The context is Jesus comforting his disciples as they have become worried, scared, afraid of losing Him. He is about to be put to death but they think He is just leaving. For them, Jesus was their Teacher, Master, Savior. But how could He leave them? Thomas is confused and tells Jesus that he doesn't know where He is going. And if they don't know where He is going, then how can they know the way there. Thomas is literal. Jesus's words are flying over his head. Jesus tells Thomas that He is the way, the truth and the life and no person can go to the Father but through Him. Jesus tells Thomas that He is the answer to what people look for. People look for the way in life and many do it by seeking things, a career, money, or even a religion. People look for the truth of life through religion, philosophy, investigation or other intellectual activity. Others focus on living life. Life to the fullest according to their understanding. None of these will bring full satisfaction. All of these fall short because none of them lead us to the Father. We were made by God to have a relationship with Him. He made us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Whether we admit it or not, we need Him. But we can only go to the Father through Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father. Jesus is the Truth that leads to the Father. Jesus is the Life. His life is the Father's life. There is nothing else that will lead us to the Father but Jesus.
When you believe in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, He transforms your life. This life is the abundant life he promised. But many of us Christians even after this, live our lives pursuing activities or doing things to make us better. So what should we pursue as a single focus of our lives? I believe it is to know Jesus. The Apostle Paul had knowing Jesus as his aim in life:
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" - Phillippians 3:7-8, 10
As Christians what is it that we pursue or desire? Some Christians want to be more spiritual, more godly, or another quality. Others want to serve Christ faithfully. Many Christians just want to be "good" by doing what the Bible says or what is expected of them. They attend church faithfully and participate in activity. But what could be the ultimate focus of our life? This question came up about three years ago for me. As I prayed, I asked God to allow me to follow Him, to have my family and to serve others. Today, I thought about it a bit more and narrowed what I desire the most, to a single focus for my life.
But before, I want to share the verse that shows what we often want and where the answer for all of them are found. It is John 14:6. A verse so well-known. The context is Jesus comforting his disciples as they have become worried, scared, afraid of losing Him. He is about to be put to death but they think He is just leaving. For them, Jesus was their Teacher, Master, Savior. But how could He leave them? Thomas is confused and tells Jesus that he doesn't know where He is going. And if they don't know where He is going, then how can they know the way there. Thomas is literal. Jesus's words are flying over his head. Jesus tells Thomas that He is the way, the truth and the life and no person can go to the Father but through Him. Jesus tells Thomas that He is the answer to what people look for. People look for the way in life and many do it by seeking things, a career, money, or even a religion. People look for the truth of life through religion, philosophy, investigation or other intellectual activity. Others focus on living life. Life to the fullest according to their understanding. None of these will bring full satisfaction. All of these fall short because none of them lead us to the Father. We were made by God to have a relationship with Him. He made us to have an intimate relationship with Him. Whether we admit it or not, we need Him. But we can only go to the Father through Jesus. Jesus is the way to the Father. Jesus is the Truth that leads to the Father. Jesus is the Life. His life is the Father's life. There is nothing else that will lead us to the Father but Jesus.
When you believe in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord of your life, He transforms your life. This life is the abundant life he promised. But many of us Christians even after this, live our lives pursuing activities or doing things to make us better. So what should we pursue as a single focus of our lives? I believe it is to know Jesus. The Apostle Paul had knowing Jesus as his aim in life:
"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" - Phillippians 3:7-8, 10
For Paul, his purpose in life was to know Christ. Everything else was nothing. His desire was to know Christ, to have fellowship with Him, especially in suffering and even in death. Paul knew that everything he went through, especially persecution and suffering was because of what believed about Christ. It was because he knew Christ. This was the basis of everything He did. He lived in Christ daily. Christ was His life. To know Christ was the supreme desire of his life. Paul's daily life was in Christ. Each day was an opportunity to know Him better, to live for Him and to share Him with others. This should be the case with us.
To know Jesus should be our only focus. Nothing should matter more than knowing Jesus.
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