The Prize

Much of the chatter today is about reaching goals; from washing one’s own face to retiring as a millionaire at age fifty.   The good life is available for all who take the time to follow the simple steps laid out in any of a hundred self improvement books, eBooks, audio books and seminars.  The objective is attainable.  It is attainable for those in the self help industry; to the tune of nearly 10 billion dollars last year.   In reality, we all want to be successful at life.  We want to do well, be comfortable, care for our families and enjoy this life here and now.  Success in life is not a new goal, nor is it a goal limited by culture, geography or status.  Throughout history, succeeding in life has always been the aim of humans.  From Adam onward, all have attempted to live in a way that will bring satisfaction and joy, food and shelter, purpose and love.  These are all good goals, good things to strive for.  The concern, is not whether these are good goals, but if they are ultimate goals.  And it is at this point that we fail, all of us and often.

 
Throughout the history of the Israelites, God directed the people to be faithful to Him alone;   He wooed them as a lover pursuing his beloved.  He promised good to them if they followed Him and, conversely he promised bad results when they did not.   In the book of Deuteronomy, as Moses recounted the history of the newly formed nation of Israel, he emphasized the importance of following the Lord as their king and God.  Through Moses, God let the people know that following His ways would result in blessing; in full bellies and happy children and a good life.  Ignoring the law, rejecting God, would result in poverty, war and famine.  The instruction was clear, leaving nothing to the imagination.  It was impossible to misunderstand. 

Moses even went so far to utter a prophecy about the future of this new nation.  In Deuteronomy 31:20  God says through Moses; “ For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant.”  The God who rescued these people and promised them the new land knew full well that they would eventually reject Him as God and worship other, new gods. 

What I find instructive is the point at which the people turn from God.   When the people are prosperous, when their goals are realized when life is good and full; that is when they turn their backs on God.    Being well fed, safe and happy are good things though, so what happened to Israel and what happens to us, that we turn from God when all is well?  
 

Could it be that we have mistaken the gifts for the real goal?  Have we settled for less than was intended?   In the Garden, Adam and Eve had it all, but a face to face relationship with the Creator was not enough for them.  The people of Israel had God as their King, Rescuer and Provider, yet once they were comfortable; it too, was not enough for them.  What was it that led them and leads us to desire only the side effects of God’s presence and not He, Himself?

Remember that God had rescued the Hebrews from within a nation, that He had called

them His own people, identifying with them before the on looking world.  Throughout

their history, variously He called them His treasured possession, His inheritance, the

sheep of His pasture, the people called by His name.  These words all describe a

relationship of love and care, paternal in nature.  God reaches out in love and desires love

in return.  Moses knew this, as did Joshua.  And because they knew it, these men sought

to be with God, to spend time in His presence.  Jesus also embodied this truth in His life

and ministry.  He called the disciples to Himself, to a relationship based on the love of

God for His creatures.  1John 4:9 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”

As the love of God draws us into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we come to know the love of God and to return that love to Him, letting Jesus be the One who gives us the life of love.

To be in Christ, to remain or to abide in Him is to be so connected that His life flows into us to give us life.  As a branch attached to a vine thrives as long as that attachment remains, so with us.  We cannot have life apart from the One who is life.  However, we all know that the perks of life, the things we crave and set out to achieve are often the focus of life.   But these things are not life, nor are they life giving.  It is as if we forget the source of the life and remember only the gifts. The source, the One through whom the good gifts come gets pushed aside.   And the prizes, the shiny, costly, expensive trinkets rise to the center of our focus and energies, they become the “must haves” while the Source falls out of mind.  

 This is the warning of the prophecy in Deuteronomy, indicating that it falls to us to remain in the vine, to hold fast the hand and will of God, the Source.    John 15:9 tells us about the nature of the relationship of abiding; remaining: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain (abide) in my love.” 

 Always stay in His hand, always remember who He is.  Stay in that place of His presence.  Actively recall that He has committed Himself in promises and in fact to our good, to Life and to purpose.  In calling us to worship Him and find joy in Him He has shown us how to abide and see what is truly valuable.  Because He, alone, is the true Prize, and the pearl of great price. Only in Him will we be satisfied.  The effects of His work in us, the good gifts He gives are really only the side effects of His grace.  They are fleeting, He is everlasting.  They are limited, He is infinite.  They are partial He is complete.  He is the Prize.