Focus: All the Way to the End

Text: Ezr.5:16

"Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and SINCE THAT TIME EVEN UNTIL NOW HATH IT BEEN IN BUILDING, AND YET IT IS NOT FINISHED."

Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." Have you discovered why you are here on earth? Are you living like your days are numbered? Are you bent on finishing task after task for the Lord? Are you moving in God's direction and fulfilling His purpose? Are you a goal-setter and a go-getter for Jesus? Albert Einstein said in his day, "If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things." Happiness and being busy about God are tied together.

Life is better lived by believing in God, setting clear-cut goals and having the guts to pursue them to a logical conclusion.

From our text, we can see that God's house was forever in building. God's people didn't think it was proper and wise to start and finish it as a matter of divine urgency. God had to confront and prod them to action, using these words, "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?" (Hag.1:4). Their attitude towards things pertaining to God was that of indifference. They dilly dallied and delayed the completion of the sacred project. They failed to understand that their life was centered around that sacred structure. Apathy and lethargy took hold of them, but only as far as God's work was concerned.

Jesus faced His life's mission with a sense of urgency. He said, "Tell that fox that I've no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I'm busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I'm wrapping things up" (Lk.13:32, The Message). I concur with Stephen King, who said, "Get busy living or get busy dying." Jesus Christ was purpose-driven and passionate about what God wanted. At last He said, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (Jh.17:4).

Find the reason you are here and pursue it to the end. Stop wasting precious moments. Be quick in your obedience and tenacious in your commitment. Go all the way to the end.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter