Everyone has a goal in life. Everyone has a philosophy about life. Sadly, far too many seldom think about either. Some are so goal-oriented their life is lived within a narrow framework; important things are sacrificed to achieve the goal. Philosophy, someone said, is that set, or group, of ideals, which guide and direct our behavior. Too many have a distorted philosophy. It is seen in the way they live life.
Standards are principles used to measure something. There are standards covering just about everything. Violating some standards can result in disaster. Our goals and philosophy, whether or not we realize them, are used as standards by which we live or die.
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! The squirrel cage in which some live their life goes ever faster. Time is running out and the goal is not met. The philosophy is not working. Occasionally, someone will stop, get out of the cage, sit down and ask, "What is wrong?" The goal, the philosophy is not working according to the standard I set. "Why?"
Perhaps the answer is found in the fact that goals can change daily as philosophy is modified to fit the current set of circumstances. A person living life in this fashion would be viewed as pragmatic. When we wake up tomorrow and find things have changed we try and adapt to the changes. We become controlled by changes we have no control over. Our goals and philosophy are in a state of flux. Nothing is stable! At least for very long.
What if we reflect on the question, "What is wrong?" Is there a goal or philosophy based on an unchanging standard? What effect would that have on how we perceive life? Would this unchanging standard be a good thing or not? Would we have better control over how we respond to societies changes?
Would this standard adversely affect our goals or philosophy? If so, and the standard is good, what might that say about our goals, or philosophy. (At this point, you're wondering if I will ever get to the point. Be patient.)
I now introduce a book wherein anyone can find a standard in which to base his or her goals and philosophy, and life on. The Bible! The Bible has been with mankind for centuries. It has never been proven false, or misleading in any way. Learned men have endeavored to disprove portions of the Bible, but have met with failure. They always will. This standard, the Bible, is founded on the veracity of its author, God.
If we use the Bible to base our life on, set goals, define philosophy, and gain wisdom, we will never fear that when we wake up tomorrow the standard has changed. Peace and security are experienced.
The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, his beloved child in the faith, said:
"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." 1 Timothy 1:5 N. A. S. B.
This philosophy of faith, as the goal Paul was instructing Timothy (and us) in, has three principles:
1. Love from a pure heart.
2. A good conscience.
3. A sincere faith.
In the A.V., the word for love is charity. The Greek word for charity is Agape, which means love. Today, the word love too often has a sexual association. Not so in this passage. The Bible tells us that God is love meaning God is Agape. This type of love proceeds from a pure heart.
Conscience is an interesting word. It is defined as, "…, to be one's own witness, one's own conscience coming forward as a witness. It denotes an abiding consciousness whose nature it is to bear inner witness to one's own conduct in a moral sense.
1. A pragmatic person will, on occasion, override their conscience in order to say or do something their conscience says no to. A principled person, one who determines to live their life according to the standards of the Bible, heeds the warning of their conscience. The person who ignores the warning does so at their peril.
A sincere faith. "In the NT, it came to mean one without hypocrisy or pretense, unfeigned, genuine, real, true, sincere.
2. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1, NASB. This is not blind faith, for faith is not blind. There are, at least, two powerful words that define faith: assurance and conviction. These are found in the abiding conscience of a principled person.
One cannot live without hope. Many place their hope in things only to find disappointment when the hoped for thing is gained. What is the hope of our goal(s)? Are our goal(s) lofty, or are they within easy reach?
Someone once said: the highest good should be everyone's goal! The highest or supreme good simply stated; is: "That good above which lies no other," called the Summum Bonum, the best!
Unfortunately, many arrive at what is believed to be a worthy goal only to be disappointed. Why? The believed to be a worthy goal it is not fulfilling. Such goals can never satisfy; there is always something beyond them. Not so with the highest good, or the Summum Bonum.
The highest good in life, of course, is Jesus Christ. When we seek any other thing making that the center, or the focus, of our life, we are seeking less than the Summum Bonum. Jesus Christ points us to the highest good in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." A.V. (all these things refer to vss 25-32.) Visualize a bull's eye. The center is the kingdom of God.
Jesus says this is what we are to focus on. If we don't, we should not be surprised if "all these things" are not added to our life. When we make it our goal, our philosophy, our primary desire to seek first His kingdom, then Jesus promises He will add "all these things" to our life, in proper perspective. Jesus gives us four reasons for seeking His kingdom first:
1. The Kingdom is ultimate. There is nothing above or higher.
2. The Kingdom is eternal: It won't disappear tomorrow.
3. The Kingdom is absolute: It will not change tomorrow. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Hebrews 13:8 A. V.
4. The Kingdom of God is infinite: Meaning, it encompasses all time and space. Wherever Christians go, the Kingdom goes with them. The choice is: you live by it, or against it.
There consequences to our decisions. Some have a temporary, or inconsequential effect. Skip a meal go hungry for a while. Run out of gas and you walk. Some have a lasting effect. Walk in front of a moving car, be crippled, injured, or killed. Reject God's love and you live outside His kingdom. Why? These are the laws of the Kingdom of God. Decisions have consequences.
But, the decisions I have discussed above can have a tremendous impact upon our lives now and for all eternity. Why? Decisions have consequences.
A pragmatic person lives by bits and pieces. A principled person lives by a goal, and a philosophy. The highest goal and philosophy is the Kingdom of God. Living according to the Kingdom of God requires the taking of an initial step. One must know Jesus Christ as their savior.
Eternity (in heaven) is not a GOAL! If you are a Christian, when you die you have to go to heaven, there is no other place to go, heaven is a provision, never a goal.
The principled person sets their goal on seeking Jesus Christ. Their philosophy and desires are crafted by the standards found in the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ. It is to be an intimate relationship.
The pragmatic person doesn't have such a plan. Goals frequently change. Their life is crisis oriented. It is controlled and manipulated by situations, which they can't control. Hopes are put in fantasy and dreams. E.g. lottery tickets, the false belief they will win, if they buy enough tickets.
Unlike the born again person, heaven is not their provision. When they die, they go elsewhere and it's not pleasant. It's not pleasant for all eternity. Eternity never ends and neither does the unpleasantness.
To the pragmatic et. al., I recommend reading the Gospel of John. The K. J. V. (A. V.), or the New American Standard Version (N. A. S. B.) are two excellent sources. Once accomplished, read Psalm 119. Although lengthy, it is all encompassing regarding the Kingdom of God.
That's The Way I See It. If you see it differently regarding eternity, and the Kingdom of God, and you are right and I am wrong, well, it's probably no big deal. But, if I'm correct in basing my life, philosophy, goals, hopes, and desires upon the veracity of God and His Word, then for you it most certainly will become a big deal.
