On December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, NC, Wilbur and Orville Wright flew a powered aircraft. It went a 120 feet in 12 seconds, But it was a first for flight. Within 2 years of those first short flights, the Wright brothers had refined their 'flying machine' into a practical airplane. They had some idea of the tremendous value of their invention and became obsessed with reaping the financial rewards. In following years, others began to use innovations of the Wright brothers without paying them. They filed suit after suit in court against those who were infringing on their patents. They became so focused on the legal struggle, they lost sight of continuing development of their flying machines. Ten years after their first flight, others had stepped in and developed the technologies, eclipsing the valuable work of the Wright brothers.
I wonder what might have been if the Wright brothers had kept their brilliant minds focused on developing aerodynamic principles and refining the technologies they created. They had solved the problems with created a viable powered flying machine, what might they have developed in the next ten years? We will never know.
Disciple, we must remember that losing sight of the important to focus on the urgent will always rob us of the best in life! It is oh-so-easy to get sidetracked by secondary issues, isn't it?
When we take our eyes off of the goal and start to question:
"Am I getting respect from others?”
“Am I having all the fun I think I deserve?”
“Am I being compensated fairly?”
“Are others getting a better deal in life than I am?"
- we cannot effectively do God's work and we will not remain faithful servants of the Kingdom.
The wisest people are those who know how to choose the most important things and stick with them, come what may. In this age and culture, we are blessed to have multiple opportunities in life, but the grand buffet spread in front of us demands great wisdom. None of us is rich enough in time to have it all! We must choose.
What will you spend your time on today, friend? Will it be wasted, just ‘killing time?’ Or, will it be invested? Will it be invested in things that please the Lord or in things that have little lasting value? Will you obsess over money, success, pleasure, or reputation? Or, will you live courageously, selflessly, and with Heaven’s rewards in view?
Here is a word from the Word!
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed!" (Hebrews 12:1-4, The Message)
Like Christ, keep your eyes focused on the IMPORTANT. See how He lived. Trust that your Father in Heaven sees, knows, and will ultimately reward you.
STAY THE COURSE!
_________________
Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true!
Keep me true, Lord Jesus,
keep me true.
There's a race that I must run,
There's a victory to be won.
Every hour, by Thy power,
I'll be true.
- Unknown
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