Shifting Focus to What Lasts / Guest Post by Dan Huntington

Once upon a time, I was quite serious about my running. I mapped out my training schedule at least 3 months in advance. I picked out the races I would run, my recovery days, my hard days, and my easy days. With 5 kids and a full-time job, I had to schedule tomorrow’s training today to make sure I could get it in. Many times that meant hitting the street at 5 a.m. (or earlier) before the busyness of the day set in.

In addition to focusing on my training schedule, I modified other things to ensure that I was running at my best. I changed my eating habits to support my goals. I stopped playing other sports that might impact my running. I bought the best shoes for my different types of training and high-dollar racers for race days.

My level of discipline for that 12 months surprised me and those around me. What was my goal? I wanted to qualify for and run the Boston Marathon. That was 24 years ago. My wife framed the finisher’s medal and my number. The result of her kind gesture is sitting on a shelf somewhere around here. Maybe my kids will appreciate it for a couple of minutes before they throw it out after I’m gone.

What’s my point? Is there anything wrong with pursuing our passions with diligence? Of course not, but do I pursue God with that same level of discipline and commitment? Is the bulk of my daily routine the pursuit of temporal goals or eternal goals? Am I storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” That can be a tall order.

Paul says in Philippians 1:21, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Most of us lean on the second part of that verse. But what does Paul mean when he says “To live is Christ”? Paul is saying that for the believer, Jesus is our focus, our main motivation, and glorifying Him our primary goal. In Philippians 3:7-8, Paul says, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

What am I to do with these verses and so many others that clearly teach me how I am to live? Can I just commit to using brute mental strength to change my priorities? My goals? My daily life?

Personally, I’ve tried the “grit my teeth, gut it out, and obey” strategy, only to fail over and over again. As I said earlier, I’ve demonstrated in my life that I have the ability to live in a very disciplined manner, yet I have struggled with the discipline of eternal before temporal. What, then, is the answer?

In John 15:1, Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” In John 15:4, He says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”

So, abiding is the answer, but what does abide actually mean? Bibledictionarytoday.com defines “abide” this way: “It represents a continuous connection with God, signifying loyalty, commitment, and faithfulness.” The only way that I know of to cultivate that continuous connection is through daily time with Him. For me, prayer along with time in His Word initiates, amplifies, and sustains that continuous connection. Just like in running, that daily training is resulting in personal development for me. It is allowing me to abide in Him more and more. Through that abiding, I see my goals shifting from temporal to eternal.

If you struggle with making daily time with God a priority in your life, pray that God would give you a love for just that. While you wait for Him to change that part of your heart, this is one time where “gritting your teeth, gutting it out, and just obeying” will reap huge benefits.