When I was out walking this past week, I realized a very important biblical truth. Sometimes life gets so busy, crazy, and downright out-of-control that we get distracted from what is really important. We also get discouraged when the end is nowhere in sight! The Apostle Paul told us in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” What is that prize? Paul shares that Christ is the prize; and reveals that the loss of all things in verse 7 – all the good things we have here on earth – pale in comparison to the prize of knowing Christ as Lord and Savior.

Even as Christians, we want to see the end before we start out on a journey. We love to know what we are getting into along the way of life. But the reality is that we will never enjoy the final goal of this life – being present with the Lord in Heaven – until this life is over. This world is not our home, but while we are here God instructs us to persevere just like the Apostle Paul.

So, how can we persevere and stay focused on the goal? By the power of God’s Holy Spirit, spending time with God in prayer, enjoying fellowship with other followers of Christ, and reading the Bible. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” By following Paul’s example of not getting distracted with past accomplishments, but rather focusing on Christ and the path he has set before us, we too will find that heavenly prize—if we truly let Jesus Christ have His rightful place in our lives.