I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I am a bottom-line kind of person – I really am. If I’m painting, I want to have a clear idea in my head of what the painting should look like when I’m finished – I mean what’s the bottom line here, what’s it going to look like? I have to have a goal. There has to be a reason for all that inspiration... or... why even start on the painting?
I remember one time I began a painting with nothing but sheer inspiration. I had no idea where I was going to end up... I just wanted to see what would “happen” as I slapped oil paint on the canvas. Well, guess what... after all that paint and many hours, after all that effort... my “willy-nilly” inspiration took me nowhere, because I did not have a clear goal in mind... because I had no idea what the finished painting should look like in my head... it never got finished. It had a little bit of this in it, a little bit of that... the color was okay, but it really ended up looking messy and confused, like one of those abstract things. And before long, it got set aside and then finally trashed.
I’ve got to be careful that I don’t live life that way. I’ve got to be careful that I don’t let life simply “happen” to me. I’ve got to constantly remind myself to stick to the plan... not to go at life on willy-nilly inspiration but I have to keep heading toward the goal. The bottom-line. And what is that bottom-line?
The way Jesus lived gives us a clue. I don’t know if He ever painted a picture, but He was definitely interested in end results. Whether He was speaking, teaching, praying, or ministering, whatever He did, He had heaven as the goal. That was His bottom-line and although He reacted to many unexpected circumstances and obstacles, He never got off-track. Jesus was constantly trying to get us to think about heaven (and hell for that matter). He was always focusing in on the end results: The finish line; the final picture. He was always talking about the harvest at the end of all the reaping... about the fruit gathered off the tree... the wages at the end of a day’s labor... the house after it was built... always and always He tried to remind us that this is the way to live.
I wrote about this and a little booklet I’ve called "When Heaven Arrives" and while I'm thinking about it, I want you to your get your free copy today at Joniandfriendsradio.org or you can call me at 1-888-522-5664 because in it, I talk about heaven being the goal for every Christian. Even as the apostle wrote in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the high goal..." -- and that goal is to know Jesus Christ and his fullest most glorious expression in heaven. So, don't forget. Come see me today and see me at joniandfriendsradio.org
And one more thing, friend, don’t let circumstances bump you upside the head... don’t go bouncing off of life’s situations. Rather, grab hold of the goal. Everything you and I do here on earth — everything we do for others — has a direct bearing on how we will spend eternity.
So visit me today at joniandfriendsradio.org and don't forget to run in such a way as to get the prize... or to finish the painting... or pick the fruit, reap the harvest, build the house. There’s no better bottom-line than to as we are gold in Philippians chapter 3. I’m going to repeat that verse again because it is so important. Friend, don’t live life a “willy-nilly” inspiration, “... press on toward the goal to win the high prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Right there you have a reason for living.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
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Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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