Bible reading: " "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" Philippians 3:13.
This is the aim of Apostle Paul after he started his race as a Christian; this very sentence is not met for reading sake but for us to reason deeply. The greatest tragedy in life is not failing in strategy to be successful and prosperous; man’s greatest tragedy in life is living without a purpose, I found no essence of living, sweetness and happiness in a life devoid of purpose. Without purpose there is no destination, it is a known purpose that polishes our life with meaningful color. Purpose defined brings about mapping and creation of path to greatness in life. God does not create any man for creation sake, neither does He raised the dry bones for just showcasing power. He did everything for a reason. Our liberation and salvation is not just for spiritual profile, there is more to it. Joseph was not fashioned as a ruler; just to enjoy life, neither was Esther made queen just for luxury. We need to know and walk in the awareness of this reality: everything we were, everything we are, everywhere we were, and everywhere we, has their reasons.
There is a purpose why we were being created, there is a purpose for being who we are. Our being and existence is not by accident, they don’t just happen, everything God planned happen for a reason, except the one we naughtily caused. There are many things we found ourselves in, that we have never chosen: there is a purpose, we were born to that family. There is a purpose we attended that school and that church or organization. There is a purpose of pursuing that career and reading that course. There is always a purpose, but all purpose is to manifest under and not over our chase to eternal life. Apostle Paul said he put some things behind and forgot them so as to get rid of the hindrances and thorns unto life eternal. This is what every heaven aspirants are to meditate and imitate.
An adage says, "A man who is pursuing two rats may likely end up losing the two." This saying simply spelt out the power of focus and consciousness. I will want us to get this introductory part straight; there is no way the hunter can get to kill the two animals alone, and again the probability of going back home with one of them is near to the ground. I stand from the view of a wise hunter to say, “This is really a risk, any hunter will try to engage in.”
As a Christian, being Christ focus is one thing that guarantees life eternal. I don't know how we might have explained Matthew 6:33 "...seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.", but I believe it tells us that everything we need in life, now and hereafter will be acquired with certainty, when we maintain being heavenly conscious.
Apostle Paul had said earlier to the Philippians and here he is repeating it to them. The question should there be, Am I a Philippian? You may not be, but as long as you are longing to be a partaker of divine nature, which authorizes you being a heaven citizen, you need to consider these things: "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." 1 Corinthians 6:12. Anything that will tarnish your sonship or forfeit your heavenly ticket, things that will hinder you from abiding in God's jurisdiction (living and walking in the spirit), and those things that will drift you away from Christ, should be let go today. Paul said he had dumped it all in the trash so that he could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. He gave up all that inferior stuff so that he could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself. It is not enough to know what will make us to inherit God’s kingdom, but to do the necessary. Remember the young rich man, who approached Jesus and asked for the requirement of getting saved, but was not ready to give up and give in compulsory and necessity. Keep focused on that goal, the heavenly home. To those of us who want everything God has for us, if by any means we have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, let it be put aside and destroyed.
We need to know this; distraction from our devotion has nothing good to offer, except denial of eternal abode with God. The issue of balancing is what does actually cause the problem. If you are the type that study and meditate the scripture very well, you will know that balancing is a risk, just like the hunter I mentioned at the introductory part. John says “KJV:He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3: 30. Matthew chapter thirteen talked about the soil that is of thorns and of the seed of the sower; Fruitfulness will never work on such soil because the thorns will surely situate the soil back to the position of uselessness.
In life, we don't take this two together; it always results in error while trying to balance it. We need to move always with the consciousness that there are things to decrease and things to increase in our doing, words and character. To John the Baptist, all that matters is glorifying God and the expansion of the kingdom coast. Fame, popularity, personality is not his chase, but the growth of God’s kingdom; this should be our singleness of purposes as a child of God. There should not be a thing we cannot part with, to gain that gracious home; it became difficult for that rich man who approached Jesus for demands unto salvation to part with his riches. Remember the parable of Jesus about God’s kingdom likened to a treasure found by a man, which caused him to sell all he had in order to own it. I have not seen anything good that comes easy, every prize demands a price.
James 4:4 says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Double dating is not allowed in spiritual relationship. If you are for God, maintain being for him and If you are not, then don't suffer yourself any more. Make a decision today and have a singleness of purpose. The winning of the heavenly prize demands complete concentration. Paul had one mind, not double minded. That is what I called singleness of purpose, having only one real aim or purpose in life, bending all energies to serve the Lord. May God help us in life to remain in Him and to continue seeking Him throughout the moment of our days on the land of living.