Focus: What Do You Really Want Out Of Life?

Text: Jh.5:6

"Wilt thou be made whole?"

Do you ever want a life of wellness and wholeness? Do you desire intensely a radical shift from a fragmented life to an integrated one? Do you want to succeed in this life? Are you happy with your life as it is? Is where you are now good enough for you? Do you long to be and do better? Is life of chasing the wind and catching nothing all you ever wanted? What is that one thing you need to do to move to the next level of your life? 

These and more are wake up questions for those who seem to have settled for less in life, who no longer think that success is ever achievable, or that significance is still attainable. It is a question that is designed to stir up people who have been down for too long until being down doesn't bother them anymore. It is a question for those who wonder if anything good can come out of Nazareth. These questions are meant to serve as a shocker to those who seem to have made up their mind to quit or throw in the towel, for those who are meandering in the pool of mediocrity, and for those who seem to have become comfortable with average or ordinary life - a life of no vision or ambition.

Are you idle, wasting away your life or very busy achieving nothing? Which one is it? Are you satisfied with the status quo? Are you allergic to success or you have become lethargic with greatness?

Read the story of the impotent man in John 5. A lot of us started out in life already feeling powerless, helpless and hopeless. From the starting point of life we are already feeling like we were never going to make it. The man has been down for 38 years, living a life of no meaning and no progress. He has been in one spot for 38 years - no progress. He makes efforts, but no effects to show for it. 38 years of abnormal existence! 38 years of living from hand to mouth! 38 years of pain, misery, and regrets! 38 years of having no one to help - no family or friends. It is said that failure is an orphan. Failure lacks charm.

After years of being helplessly down, he finally accepted being down as his lot in life. He gives up on himself and on life. He stops believing and hoping. He sees no sense in aiming and missing. He surrenders himself to life as he sees it. Hence the question of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Do you really want to get well?" He wanted to awake in him a new consciousness. He wanted him to start believing again in possibilities. You are not a flop just because you failed yesterday. Every day is a new day to try again and again. Success is not stress-free. Success stretches us. In this life you never quit trying until you succeed.

Jacob, in his night dream, sees a ladder reaching up to heaven from the earth. That tells you that no one jumps into success or greatness; you climb up to it. In front of you is a ladder of success and greatness. You can begin the upward climb now.

Do you want to succeed in your life? If yes, then you need divine help. Our Lord Jesus Christ helped the impotent man, and He can help you now. There is nothing like late success. With the help of God you can succeed at any time. At the age of 85, Caleb was still able to possess the territory of Hebron - the land of the giants. In fact, David in his days ruled over Judah for seven years with Hebron as his capital. The Scripture says that "the LORD was with Joseph and he prospered… The LORD gave him success in everything he did" (Gen.39:2-3). God was the source of Joseph's success, and He can be your source, too. A Godless person is headed to nowhere. C. S. Lewis says, "To walk out of His will is to walk into nowhere." 

Good success is not possible without the good God.

The Lord Jesus Christ cured the man of his impotence and paralysis and made him whole again. The man got up for the first time in 38 years and walked away from the place of failure and misery without ever looking back.

No one ever succeeds in any endeavor without wanting to. What you attack, you can't attract. In this life, we go for what we want, not what we hate. Life of no aim is a low life. I tell you the truth, your success will inspire others. Someone will succeed because of you. Here is my prayer for you: "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3Jh.1:2). Desire, decide, and determine to succeed in every facet of your life!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter