Short and Long Range Goals

Hi,
 
If you have ever tried to row a fishing boat across a lake, you realize it's necessary to have two points of reference to line your course.  If not you will zig zag like a snake's coil.  When teeing off at the golf course, you must pick a spot where you want the ball to land, but you also need to pick a spot a few yards from your tee, then line up the two spots before you hit your driver.  Same with plowing a straight furrow in your garden, you need two stakes to line up on.  And with those two stakes in front of you, you must always keep your eyes on them, and keep them in line.  If you are careful to not deviate an inch from a straight line, then your furrow will be as an arrow speeding to its target.

This can be a great lesson to us in our Christian lives. If we would run a straight course, we must have two stakes-the near and the distant.  It is not enough to be living in the present; it is likewise a great and glorious thing to have a distant goal.  We can enjoy the blessings of a clean and well disciplined life today with Jesus, and look forward to the blessings of heaven and life eternal with Him.  For you see, we are just pilgrims, just passing through.  And we are to pass through on a straight course.

Strangers and pilgrims—Hebrews 11:13

Henry