Being so focused and
determined that we have one objective in mind. Once Jesus and Paul knew for
certain what God wanted them to do, nothing on earth could make them change
their minds. They set their faces like flint towards Jerusalem.
“As the time approached for him to be taken up to
heaven, Jesus resolutely set out
for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). He
was clear in His mind concerning His mission in life. He was born to die for
the sins of humanity. Deep down He knew what He had to do and where He had to
head towards.
This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 50:7: “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I
will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my
face like flint”. Flint is a very hard stone. Jesus set His face
like flint to go to Jerusalem with unflinching purpose
and steely
determination, undaunted by any opposition or suffering that lay
ahead. As Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem, His feet followed the
direction of His gaze.
Similarly,
the apostle Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem despite conflicting advice from well-meaning
believers: “And
now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me
there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city
that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life
of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the
Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God (Acts
20:22-24).
Not even a
stern warning could stop him from fulfilling his mission. The prophet Agabus, took Paul's belt and bound
his own feet and hands and said, “Thus
says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is
how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the
Gentiles’’’ (Acts 21:11).
No
matter what, Paul was absolutely determined to go to Jerusalem because he lived
by this motto – obedience to the heavenly vision God had given him.
“Therefore,
O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the
heavenly vision, but declared first to those
in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and
also to the Gentiles, that they should repent
and turn to God, performing deeds in
keeping with their repentance” (Acts 26:19-20).
Many
things can cause us to deviate from the path God has set for us: Our own incessant
inner chatter, well-meaning counsel from others, trials and tribulations, worldly
cares and concerns. This may sound strange but sometimes what derails God’s plan for us is
success – to be exact, pride and complacency which come with success. This
happens when success gets to our head.
Once
Jesus and Paul knew for certain what God wanted them to do, nothing on earth
could make them change their minds. They set their faces like flint towards
Jerusalem.
Are we clear in our minds God’s vision for our lives?
Are we clear in our minds God’s vision for our lives?
If so, are we advancing – slowly but surely – towards the intended
goal?
Are we focused on finishing the course?
“Let your eyes look
straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27).
fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27).
“Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.” – Josh Billings, American humorist.
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and
endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success
unexpected in common hours.” –
Henry David
Thoreau.
And what is success from a biblical viewpoint? There are many diverse views as to what constitutes success but, to me, it is simply the progressive realisation of God-inspired goals.
It is not necessarily the notion of success of the world – fame, power, money
and comfort.
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