It happened in a seventh grade "B" team basketball game Monday afternoon. Our grandson, Dempsey, was playing. The score was tied 8-8. There were less than thirty seconds left in the game. The opposing team passed the ball in on Nixon-Smiley's end of the court. The boy receiving the ball saw the goal. There was a clear shot. He took the shot and made it! The score is now 10-8 with twenty seconds left. The game was soon over. Nixon-Smiley had won! You say Nixon-Smiley had won? That's right! The young man with the ball had taken his shot at Nixon-Smiley's goal which was closer to him. Since the ball went in, it was Nixon-Smiley's two points and they won!
Can't you feel sorry for that boy? He will never forget such a mistake. But it was only a "B" team basketball game in the seventh grade. There will be other games and opportunities to redeem himself. One thing for certain he will never do that again.
How often in life do we pick the wrong goal to shoot at? Sometimes we even make the goal, but it leaves us empty and defeated, for it was the wrong one..The lasting consequences of aiming for the wrong goal in life can be devastating. It can haunt us for life. For the Christian, however, there is forgiveness and hope. God can and will forgive and give us a new start and a new goal. That is really good news!
The apostle Paul was a dedicated man BEFORE he became a Believer. He was dedicated to destroying the Christian movement! Jesus met him on the Damascus road and fitted him with a new goal. Now his efforts were worthy. How did he deal with those days when he had a misplaced goal? He simply said: "This 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." (Philippians 3:14) You might take a second look at that goal in front of you. Is it the right one or could it bring defeat? Worth a look.
