The Only Life Goal That Matters

The Only Life Goal That Matters

Every Sunday morning, we sit together to listen to the teachings and sermons of two pastors we discovered after moving back to our home country. 

Pastor Roni serves at the church my sister and her family attend. His messages are enriched with historical insights into biblical times and practical applications for everyday life. Dr. Jerry is a pastor we came across while searching for a church for my oldest son after he moved out. His teachings are profound, thoughtful, and deeply encouraging.

Today, we listened to one of his sermons about the Puritans, specifically John Wall. John Wall was a seventeenth-century English pastor who wrote a book consisting of thirty-three chapters titled None but Christ, based on 1 Corinthians 2:2. In this verse, Paul tells the church in Corinth that he resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This conviction came after he had thoroughly examined what many people of his time pursued as their highest goal: human wisdom.

In this respect, little has changed. People today continue to pursue goals they believe will give their lives meaning and significance: earning advanced degrees, reading the latest books and theories, following life coaches, unlocking their potential, and seeking anything that promises greater knowledge, success, or fulfillment.

These pursuits are not inherently wrong. They can be beneficial if one believes that this earthly life is all there is. Yet they can only take us so far. It is at the cross that the weak and the foolish discover the power of God revealed in Christ. It is in Christ that true wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are freely given to us.

Therefore, the person who sets out to know Christ as the central pursuit of life is not a fool. On the contrary, there is no greater or more worthy goal. Jesus Himself declared that eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

There is certainly value in setting smaller goals that improve our daily lives—spending less time on social media, eating healthier, volunteering in our communities, and developing good habits. But ultimately, knowing Christ should command our deepest passion, greatest effort, most valuable time, and finest resources.

In the end, it is Christ above all else.

 "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." I Corinthians 2:2

Reasonably Good

Have you ever asked a friend for their opinion about a new restaurant in town or a movie in theaters, only to hear them say, “It’s reasonably good”? Depending on who your friends are, you may think they are being too modest or too critical. Sometimes, you are even surprised when their recommendation perfectly matches what you consider good. 

That is because the word good is often shaped by personal standards, perceptions, and worldviews, all of which can vary greatly from person to person. However, there are certain situations where “reasonably good” should never apply. The normalization of violence, the killing of innocents, or the sexualization of children should never be considered acceptable. These things are not good at all. Yet culture is often used to redefine or justify what is considered appropriate for different groups of people.

In contrast, there is a goodness that is not determined by human opinion and cannot be manipulated by cultural standards: the goodness of God. First, His goodness is inseparable from His righteousness, meaning that everything He does is just (Psalm 25:8). Second, His goodness flows from His holiness; therefore, it is perfect (1 Peter 1:16). Third, His goodness is expressed through His love, leading men and women to repentance and eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 2:4).

When God reveals His will through His Word, He establishes what is perfectly good in a world that is not. To “taste and see that the Lord is good” means trusting and fearing Him, seeking Him continually, turning away from evil, pursuing peace, and, above all, abiding in Christ. Doing what is truly good — what is just, perfect, and loving — is only possible when we are connected to the Source. This is not goodness according to cultural standards; it is goodness according to the standard of Christ.

So the next time you ask a friend for their opinion, remember that they are simply doing their best to describe their experience — and that is okay. But if you want to discover what is truly good, go to the Source of goodness Himself. He will reveal it to you without bias.

                        Psalm 34:8  "O taste and see that the Lord is good..."

Beauty Is In the Eyes of the Beholder

Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder

Last week was my birthday, and with it came the realization

that as time passes, so do my youthful looks and energy. Walking through the halls of the school where I work, I was met with a puzzled question from one of the students: “Why is your hair white on top of your head?” I simply replied that I was getting old, leaving out the part about no longer coloring my hair because I had grown tired of doing so. After 50, it seems I am constantly battling to stay in shape and look less tired. 

This is a battle I share with many other women who describe their journeys to reverse the signs of aging through miraculous diets, exercise routines, special vitamin combinations, and countless other remedies—all in pursuit of a better version of themselves, a beauty recognized and approved by others. It is a cultural standard by which women are measured, yet it is as relative as can be. Plumped lips or thin lips, overly thin bodies or curvy ones, fake eyelashes or natural faces, heavily tanned or pale skin, long hair or short hair, blonde or brunette, makeup or no makeup—all in the name of a worldly standard of beauty that changes with the shifting tune of fashion.

The financial investment and time consumed in chasing these ideals can never truly satisfy the deep longing of the heart. Beauty, as defined by the world, is flawed because the world itself is fallen. What the world calls beauty is marred by sin.

True beauty, therefore, cannot simply be a focus on outward appearance. While we become distracted by our looks, we often neglect the relationship that brings lasting peace and satisfaction. God does not condemn exercise, self-care, or even adornment, but He seeks a kind of beauty that no procedure or product can achieve—a meek and quiet spirit.

This beauty does not fade with time. It is worn upon the soul. A gentle yet strong woman is slow to anger because she has surrendered herself to God. Her confidence in her Savior brings tranquility even when circumstances are uncertain and difficult. In contrast, a restless and proud heart, one that does not fully depend on God, is easily shaken.

Real beauty is found in reflecting the character of Jesus—a meek and quiet spirit. And that can only be achieved through a personal relationship with Him. God sees the heart, men the appearance. 

How beautiful is your soul?

"Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."            I Peter 3:4

A Heartfelt Mother's Day

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16

This is my first Mother’s Day without my mom, and her absence carries a weight I feel in everything—in the quiet moments, in the memories that arrive uninvited, in the spaces she once filled so naturally and completely. Today, that loss feels especially sharp, its depth reaching places words can only begin to express.

What do we truly know of death except in contrast to life? It is through death that we begin to understand what life really is. Death is absence. There are no hands to hold, no arms to embrace—no warmth in nearness. No eyes to meet, no voice to speak, to sing, or to comfort. No ears to listen, no shoulders to lean on, no footsteps walking beside you. There is only a void where someone once was.

Death is a strange opponent—one that gives nothing, yet takes everything. It takes the love we once knew, the connections we shared, the bonds we formed, the struggles we overcame, the tears we dried, the laughter we enjoyed, the conversations—even the arguments. It takes it all. What remains are memories—fragile, fleeting reflections of who someone once was. And yet, they are what we hold onto.

There is no pain quite like death—and Jesus knows it. When he stood before the grief of Mary and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus, he was not indifferent. He was deeply moved, troubled in spirit. He entered into their sorrow. The shortest verse in Scripture says it plainly: “Jesus wept.” In that moment, he was not only expressing compassion—he was sharing in the reality of human grief, knowing that he too would face death at the cross.

In the loss of a loved one, we are not alone in our suffering. Jesus is not distant; he is present and deeply acquainted with our pain. Therefore, we can come to him with confidence, trusting that he understands and offers mercy and grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15–16). 

On this Mother’s Day, I remember my mom with a love that does not end with absence. Grief remains, but so does hope—for those who die in Christ will rise again.

The Word

The Word

One of the university units I took explored language through the lens of social factors. In one of the first classes, the professor remarked that a word is more than a unit of meaning; it is also a social marker that conveys identity, status, and group affiliation. He then wondered whether this might help explain why the apostle John, in the opening chapter of his Gospel, refers to Jesus as “the Word.” He did not develop the idea further—it was simply a passing observation from a sociolinguistic perspective—but it stayed with me. 

I began to reflect on John’s striking introduction: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” There is profound depth in this declaration that Jesus is the Word. First, it speaks to Jesus’ status: He is the Word, the unique and complete expression of God’s will. Second, it reveals His affiliation: He was with God—uncreated, existing eternally in relationship with Him. Third, it affirms His identity: He is God. Not a god, but fully and truly God; the Father and the Son are one.

What an extraordinary introduction.

Words carry meaning, but they are also shaped by social context, making them intelligible to those within a shared community. In a similar way, we come to understand God through relationship with Him. We hear Him when we are reconciled to Him—through the forgiveness of sins made possible by His Word, Jesus Christ. Our status changes from condemned to saved, and our identity is now found in Christ.

Have you heard the Word?

Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open

I remember when my sister and I were young and had to walk home, crossing busy streets. Although she was the younger of the two of us, she was always watchful and extremely careful. More than once, she pulled me back to safety just in time to avoid an oncoming car. “Didn’t you see the car coming?” she would ask.

But I was casual and untroubled. Ignorance is bliss—or is it? Not for my sister, who had to watch me put myself in harm’s way. 

To see clearly can be either a blessing or a burden, depending on the consequences. In the Garden of Eden, there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In His love, God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from it. Yet the serpent tempted Eve, saying that if they did, their eyes would be opened and they would be like God.

As we know, they ate the fruit—and the first thing they saw was their own nakedness. They had been created good, but now they felt shame. With their eyes wide open, sin entered and took hold of their once-perfect lives. In that sense, not knowing good and evil had been a blessing; it meant living in harmony with a holy God.

However, there are times when our eyes should be open—and yet they are not. When that happens, we can fail to recognize what is right in front of us. This is what happened on the road to Emmaus after Jesus’ resurrection. Two men, filled with sorrow, were discussing recent events when Jesus Himself came near and walked with them. He asked why they were troubled, but they did not recognize Him. Their eyes were closed.

They explained everything that had happened, and Jesus responded by calling them slow to believe what the prophets had spoken. Then He began to explain the Scriptures, revealing what they said about the Messiah—about Himself. Still, they did not see. Only when He blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to them were their eyes opened. Imagine that moment of realization—they had been walking with Jesus all along and almost missed Him.

The Bible teaches that when hearts are hardened, ears are dull, and eyes are closed, we miss salvation and healing of the soul (Matthew 13:15). This is a dangerous condition, one with eternal consequences. Yet God also tells us that through Christ, our eyes can be enlightened so that we may know the hope of our calling, the riches of our inheritance, and His power at work within us (Ephesians 1:18).

That is what it truly means to have eyes wide open.

Ignorance is not bliss—it is the absence of awareness and wisdom. I am grateful my sister watched over me when I should have been looking out for her. These days, I am far more careful—not only when crossing streets, but in paying attention to the things that truly matter.

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know..." Ephesians 1:18

Lest We Forget

Remember

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you went there? I do—often. I move from the kitchen to the bedroom, pause, and draw a blank. Only when I return do I remember my original purpose. It frustrates me, and I get upset with myself. I also notice my younger son sometimes says, “I don’t remember you saying that,” to avoid following instructions. Memory is fragile, selective, and often unreliable. 

Yet, remembering is vital. In Perth, Australia, I learned a phrase that carries deep meaning: “Lest we forget.” Spoken on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, it honors the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans. Each year, people gather at dawn, pause at 11 a.m. for the Last Post, and wear or place red poppies to mark these moments in history. The purpose is simple but powerful: to remember, so that sacrifice and meaning are not lost with time. 

A similar lesson appears in the Bible. Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, recorded an episode of forgetfulness after Jesus’ crucifixion. The women went to anoint His body, only to find the tomb empty and angels asking, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” Then the angels said, “REMEMBER how he told you that the Son of Man... must be crucified and rise again on the third day.” At that moment, they remembered. They ran to tell the disciples, who initially thought it was a tall tale. Even Peter, seeing the empty tomb, did not remember Jesus’ words.

What a tragedy—to miss the most important event in history because they forgot what had been said.

Like the people of Perth, we must deliberately remember God’s Word. My mind may falter, but if I revisit, recite, and remind myself of His teachings daily, I will not miss the blessings of His gentle guidance until His return.

“… I will not forget Your word.”

—Psalm 119:16