1 Corinthians 9:24
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

We are running. Running. Running.  From the very start, from the moment we are just a cell, from the moment we are a sperm. It is innate in us, it is what we do. This is how we came to be. It is, also, a matter of life or death.

Not just physical, but spiritual.

We are driven sometimes by a need, many times by a want, and most of the time by a craving for better, newer, and bigger things.
We are driven by a force that makes us strive for more.
For nothing but success.

Hey!

Nothing wrong with “more”. Nothing wrong with goals, plans, dreams, aspirations or ambitions!
In fact, we are called to do big things. To achieve goals, to aim high, and to dream big!
We are called to be the “head” and not the “tail”. (Deuteronomy 28:13)

However

We are not called to do these things for our own glory but for the Glory of God. ( 1 Corinthians 10:31)
It is when we lose focus of what it is that we should be running and striving for, that our race becomes altogether pointless.

We are all born into this life with one main purpose. That is, to get to heaven and influence as many as we can to come with us. This, is the ultimate purpose of this life. This, is  the one goal that is above any other goal.

We each have been wonderfully and uniquely created (Psalm 139:14) With a different set of talents, personality traits, likes, and skills, different goals, and different dreams.
Every part that makes us who we are is a tool given to us by God to help us fulfill the ultimate purpose.To help us reach THE GOAL. 

Yes,

We are supposed to work hard in order to both be the best version of ourselves and achieve our goals.

So

Go to school! get your masters! get your doctorate!
Apply for the job! work hard! get promoted!
Take risks for the sake of progress!
Give it always your best in order to excel at everything you do!
Advance in life!
Always. Move. Forward!
Never stop striving for more in order to fulfill the ultimate purpose of this life.
…
Never lose focus of THE ultimate goal of this life.
Any other goal is secondary. Any other goal is a mean to achieve the ultimate goal.

Philippians 3:12-14
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

It is not easy

Life is not easy. Great things don’t just happen.
Academic degrees don’t earn themselves.
Buildings don’t build themselves.
Roads don’t pave themselves.
Dreams don’t fulfill themselves.
Goals don’t achieve themselves.
Everything requires hard work.
Period.
Eternal goals too.

No,

In case you were wondering, you can’t do it alone.
However, we have been granted the assurance that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)
Not some. Not most.
All.
No less.
You will experience setbacks. You will fall. Your knees will bleed. Things will not always work out as planned.

Every time this happens, it can be easy for us to become discouraged. However, it is only when we have lost sight of the ultimate purpose of our lives that we stay discouraged.
Only when we have lost our focus on THE GOAL.

2 Timothy 4:7
” I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

I don’t know about you, but I look forward to the day when the King of the Universe Himself will say to me:
“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)
I look forward to the day when I will receive the crown that lasts forever.
So run.
Please keep running.
Whatever you do, don’t give up.
Keep your eyes on THE GOAL
And as you run, never stop asking yourself: “what am I running for?
…Who am I running for?”

Focus.