WRITTEN BY NICOLE PARKS
“So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest. They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. 16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I waste away, I waste away! Woe to me! The treacherous betray! With treachery the treacherous betray!”
Have you ever considered that God might have an end goal? Sometimes in life it helps to start with the end in mind. When you know the end goal, or the desired outcome, it is often easier to develop a plan that leads you down the right path. If your goal is “financial freedom”, the best way to start toward that goal is to clearly define the end result. For example, one might define financial freedom as being debt-free with a certain amount of money savings. Defining the goal helps determine the steps that need to be taken in order to achieve it. Another example might be physical health. Setting a vague goal of “being healthier” might not get you very far. However, being intentional about defining the desired end result, like losing 20 pounds or being able to run a marathon by a certain date, gives you a clearer picture of what needs to be done to reach your goal.
What does goal-setting have to do with faith?
Most people have probably never considered that the Christian faith has a pre-determined end goal. Thankfully, God has clearly defined His end goal and spelled it our in the scripture. Not only that, He also recorded the history of mankind’s process and progress towards that goal. In fact, the story of God’s work toward this ultimate goal is woven throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Many Christians go their whole lives without understanding God’s purpose and how each and every one of us fits with that purpose. Once our eyes are opened to the importance of this desired end, every book of the Bible comes together in a way that tells God’s story from beginning to end. Are you ready?
This post originally appeared in For God So Loved, A Seven Part Study on God’s Heart For The World
