Matt Emmons, a 3-time Olympic medalist in rifle shooting was lined up for his 10th and final shot in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.  He was 3 points clear of the rest of the group heading into the shot, almost a guaranteed gold medal.  All he needed was to shoot above a 7.1.  He fired and his shot scored an 8.1, enough to win it all!  The score shows up on the board --- it’s a ZERO.  After a few moments of confusion, he learned that he had shot at the wrong target.  He plummeted to 8th place and missed out on his 2nd Gold of those Olympics.  After the games, Matt was interviewed about his mishap and in his discussion, he said something that stuck with me for a long time…

"I didn't look at the number above the target before the last shot."

When was the last time you looked up to see what you were aiming at?

I wonder how long I have been aiming at the wrong target…

“…appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” ~ 1 Samuel 8:5 (NIV) 

What’s your endgame?  (This is not a reference to the Avengers – Sorry, Alyssa!)

Every year I get the opportunity to sit down with a handful of students and ask that question.

Have you ever thought about why you are doing all this? I mean life.  The rat race.

School, more school, even more school, job, investments, better job (more money), spouse, kids (less money), more investments, better job (more money), RETIRE COMFORTABLY!

Now, there is nothing inherently evil about any of those things.  However, if our aim finds its roots in worldly things, then we are going to miss out on so much that God has in store – we might miss out on God completely.

Where we aim determines the trajectory of our life.  The endgame determines our trajectory.  Aim for retirement, money, achievement, and we are bound to look something like it, aim for God, and well, you get it.

The author of the Book of Hebrews reminds us to

“keep our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith” ~ Hebrews 12:1 (NIV).

The Nation of Israel took their eyes off God and began to look around them.  Their endgame changed.  They wanted a king, they wanted to look like their neighbors.  Sound familiar?  God granted them this request and crowned Saul as king.  A few chapters later God says,

“I regret that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and not carried out my instructions” ~ 1 Samuel 15:11 (NIV).

God allows for us to want, to desire, to reach out for the things our neighbors have.  But haven’t you noticed, it’s those very things, those very pursuits, that bring us to addiction, that drive a wedge in our marriage, and keep us from knowing our kids.  Ultimately, it’s that desire to covet what others have that keeps us from honoring God and knowing and being known by the one person (Jesus) that can bring life, hope, and forgiveness to us and all the world.

Here’s the thing.  If our goal is to retire comfortably (or whatever version of that you have made for yourself), then --- only the things that help us accomplish that goal are deemed acceptable, convenient, not an obstacle.  Everything else, just gets in the way, and yes, that can include going to church, bible study, prayer time, service Saturday --- anything and everything that has to do with being a Christian.

However, if our aim is to honor God with all that we are and all that we do, then those once inconvenient detours to Jesustown, all of the sudden become a part of helping reach the target.  There is a shift that takes place, spiritually and mentally.  Our attitude is different.  We find ourselves enjoying the richness of God’s grace and God’s work.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these, he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ~ 2 Peter 1:2-4 (NIV)

Instead of looking around, look in, into God’s word, into your own heart, and see all that God has already given you.

I want you to go back to the beginning of your faith journey and reset that target, change the endgame back to Jesus…

Now, do what you need to do today to help reach that goal.