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Toward the Goal

(Php3:7-15)

God is everlasting (Ge21:33).

He is from everlasting to everlasting (Neh9:5).

He eternally enjoys the life that is joyful, happy and glorious.

Faith is believing Him and adoring Him, and

The life of this faith is pressing on toward the goal of the first resurrection to enter eternal life.

Every government, business, family or even individual

Sets a goal in the New Year.

Even if they do not reach the goal they established

They do not despair much because they vaguely look forward to the next year.

The do-or-die goal of the Christian, however, is

To resurrect with Christ at all costs for

He must enter eternal life with Christ.

After Adam sinned (Ge2:17, 3:6),

The Garden was shielded by a flaming sword and thus

All men lost their way to the tree of life (Ge3:22-24),

As seen in the wandering life of Cain after his sinned (Ge4:14).

God sent Moses and brought the Israelites out of Egypt.

Since they left toward Mount Horeb with the goal of reaching the Promised Land (Ex3:12, 6:8),

The pillars of clouds and fire, and the Ark became their mark (Ex13:21; Jos3:6).

As such, even in Canaan, they lived around and toward the Temple (1Ki8:30; Ps84:1) for

They longed to live many years in the land that was to be inherited for generations (Dt30:20).

However, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19),
because Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,

He would show a new goal for all men, that is to resurrect like Him, and enter eternal life for

He is the resurrection and the life (Jn11:25).

As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Fulfilled the Father's will of giving eternal life after resurrection (Jn10:17-18);
2) Condemned the devil while caused man to be cut off from the path to the tree of life and become lost (1Jn3:8); and
3) With His blood gave life to the souls of men and made a way to eternal life (Jn14:6; 1Pe1:23).

He resurrected and ascended to the heavenly throne where
He eternally enjoys the life that is joyful, happy and glorious.

The Holy Spirit comes in the name Yeshua and

Testifies His resurrection and ascension to the throne.

He lets believers know the purpose and the goal of their life:

The purpose of man's life is eternal life and

The goal of his life is the first resurrection on the day the Lord returns (1Co15:20-24; Rev20:4-15).

The man of the Spirit is he who

From the moment he awakes to the moment he falls asleep,

From the beginning of the year to the end to the year

Presses on the goal of the first resurrection (Php3:7-15),

Shaking off the past and

All stumbling blocks, such as double-mindedness, laziness, and pride.

O Lord,

How my life has been spent on being lost!

Though I learned of this clear purpose and goal of life

Numerously I fell into a slump.

But in the New Year I am bouncing back up again to run.

Lord, help me to press on toward the goal! Amen.