So many "things" distract us and cause us to lose focus. I believe Paul was constantly trying to get churches back on track because they had gotten sidetracked by distractions. He certainly clarified those distractions and put them in their proper place, but I also believe he tried to re-focus the church. We find sound advice on this when he wrote to the disciples in Philippi:...One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
From this passage we learn that there are things that may seem important to us at the moment, but they really don't deserve the attention we are giving them. These are distractions. It could be sideline issues such as planning a vacation, the weather, wondering if "so-and-so" likes us, past failures and/or successes, job stress, etc. All of these are important but never as important as the main focus (i.e., "the prize of the upward call"). These distracting issues may even have a place in the plan, but they are still not the main thing. We must learn to put things in their proper perspective and focus on the "upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
We also learn from this passage that God has a main focus for our lives that pleases Him. This is what we shoot for. We only have one life to live for God's honor, and I believe we must start where we are and begin today "straining" toward that goal.
At Calvary it is going to be super easy for us to get sidetracked on issues that will take our attention and energies away from straining to reach the goal of pleasing God. I completely understand that part of who we are as a church is being defined by selling our present campus, designing a phase one worship center, and relocating to the corner of Parris Bridge and Flatwood. But if this becomes our main focus and we allow it to completely define us then we will fail. How? We will fail because once we get relocated then we have nothing left for which to strain. We will have reached our goal: relocation; but tragically we will not have reached God's goal: discipleship. Let me explain...
I believe the "upward call of God" for us as a church is to bring Him glory and honor by making disciples as Jesus commissioned us in Matthew 28:18-20. I would much rather have us walking the halls talking about what we discussed in Sunday school or what we learned in worship than how "deep and wide" the new building should be. Just remember:
"If our focus is buildings then people get used; if our focus is on people then buildings get used!" (Les Ollila)
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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