Truth Magazine

By Mark Mayberry 4/2/2017

Introduction

The word “goal” often carries sports connotations. Webster defines it as “(1) the terminal point of a race; an area to be reached safely in children’s games; (2) the end toward which effort is directed: aim; (3) an area or object toward which players in various games attempt to advance a ball or puck and usually through or into which it must go to score points.”

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary says this noun means “(1) (in soccer, rugby, etc.) a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score; (2) an instance of sending the ball into or over a goal; (3) an aim or desired result; the destination of a journey.”

The word “goal” occurs 4x in the New American Standard Bible (Hab. 2:3; Luke 13:32; Phil. 3:14; 1 Tim. 1:5). Considering each is instructive.

Inspired Prophecy

Prophecy is given for a purpose: By revealing the mind of God, and spiritually significant future events, prophecy provides spiritual guidance and understanding, demonstrates God’s divine foreknowledge, and strengthens the faith of disciples (Hab. 2:2-3; cf. 2 Pet. 1:19-21).

Incarnate Christ

The Son of God became flesh for the purpose of fulfilling the demands of the Law, paying the price for our sins, offering Himself as a perfect sacrifice for sin, destroying the power of Satan, and offering lost humanity the promise of reconciliation and redemption (Luke 13:31-33). “I (will) reach My goal” is an affirmation that Jesus came to accomplish God’s eternal purpose (John 4:34; 17:1-5).

Inspired Message

While many miss the point of preaching, and thus turn aside from “the faith” to fruitless discussion, Paul affirms, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” In other words, the gospel message is not one option among many, but singular and soul-saving. It is not aimless and speculative, but designed to change hearts and lives. Truth must be internalized, resulting in submission to God’s rule and implementation of God’s love (1 Tim. 1:3-7, esp. v. 5).

Individual Disciples

Speaking his personal commitment to Christ, Paul said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Commending this approach, the apostle adds, “Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude…” (Phil. 3:12-16, esp. v. 14).

Goals for Our Children

We should have goals for our children. We want them to grow up healthy and whole, spiritually and emotionally balanced, with a value system that is based upon the Word of God. Godly parents desire that their children develop in a similar manner to young Jesus, who grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).

Therefore, let us walk in the steps of faithful Abraham, who commanded his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice (Gen. 18:19). Recall the admonition given to ancient Israel: “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons…” (Deut. 6:4-9). Heed the injunction of the inspired apostle: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).

Goals for Our Congregation

We should have goals for our congregation. The church should grow up in Christ, enjoying peace and spiritual prosperity, where each member is active, doing his or her part. Following God’s perfect pattern, Christians are fitted together, and grow into a holy temple in the Lord, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22).

God has provided a framework in which we can mature and prosper, having provided offices of revelation, offices of proclamation, offices of oversight, and service; “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies” (Eph. 4:11-16).

Jealous rivalry has no place in a fully-functional body. As the foot, hand, ear and eye serve different purposes, so we have different abilities and talents, which serve the overall body. Selfishness must yield to service (1 Cor. 12:14-31). By walking in truth, we enjoy spiritual well-being and prosperity (3 John 2-4).

 Goals for Ourselves

We should have goals for ourselves. Instead of living in the past, focus on the present (Phil. 3:12-16). Forgetting those things that are behind includes both success and failure. Some rest on their laurels, living in the glory days of the past; others are handicapped by earlier disappointments. We must not allow events in the past, good or bad, to keep us from faithfully serving God in the present.

Don’t look back. It doesn’t matter what you did yesterday—what are you going to do today? “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”(Luke 9:61-62).

Be competitive and disciplined (1 Cor. 9:24-27). Stay focused, keeping your eyes on the goal (Phi. 3:14). Running with patience and purpose, constantly look to Jesus, don’t become discouraged; never give up (Heb. 12:1-3).

Conclusion

What if past failures are holding you back? Change bad habits into good ones. Internalize truth. God’s word is powerfully transformative, assuming that we submit to its message. Therefore, may the prayer of every disciple be, “Prove me by Your word. Purify me by Your word. Perfect me by Your word.”

Grow in knowledge and devotion. Be given to prayer. Be filled with praise. Be empowered by His precepts. Make regular progress.

Invest time in your spiritual rehabilitation. Take responsibility. When you stumble, engage in honest self-examination, and make needed course corrections. Adjust to present circumstances, starting over if necessary, but press ever onward and upward.

Sources

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1996.

Soanes, Catherine and Angus Stevenson, eds. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Since the passing of Sherelyn’s parents, Ernest and Frances Finley, the children have been going through their “stuff,” sharing possessions and pictures from the past, etc.  Here is a photo you might be interested in, of Hershell and Marshall Patton, their wives and mother, who was affectionately called “Pat-Pat.”  These Christians had a profound and positive effect upon many in the Lord’s church, in our family and among brethren across the country.

Both Hershell and Marshall Patton have written many extensively on the Bible and religious subjects.  CEI Bookstore offers a number of their commentaries and workbooks.  Go here for more information.

By Zachery Henry

In 1944, the late George Bernard Shaw said, “Progress is impossible without change. And those who cannot change their minds, cannot change anything.” We change our minds about different things every day. Change is unavoidable. There is nothing inherently or basically wrong with change. However, in the midst of a changing world, there is a need for us to hold on to some things which do not change.

The Lord does not change, and his Word does not change. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Malachi 3:6-7 adds, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’” James 1:17 affirms, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

Men try to change, twist and distort Scripture, but do so at their own peril. Galatians 1:6-7 says, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Revelation 22:18-19 adds, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book”

Following men who would change Scripture is equally damaging to the listener. Jesus said, “Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matt. 15:14).

Proper change—repentance—is necessary to be spiritually acceptable in God’s sight. Paul urges believers “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-24). Peter affirms, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

“Progress is impossible without change.” But what sort of progress are we trying to make? The inspired apostle said, “Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Tim. 4:11-15).

Conclusion

Man changes; God doesn’t. Let’s remember this as our society and culture may change and shift away from Scripture. We should continue to herald and preach the truth that never changes. And in doing so we will make real progress.

Are you ready to make a change tonight and put on Christ? Or, have you previously chosen to follow Him, but since that time made changes in your life that would not be pleasing in His sight? Whatever your need is tonight, please make the change before it is everlastingly too late. Make your life right tonight.