Not being able to sleep, I got up and started to read. What I read shocked me. I had just brought a message a few hours ago on this same subject and it was hard to believe that I was now reading something at random that was precisely what I was saying. Amazing! Maybe I needed to hear it again, so I read the whole article. Maybe someone else needs to hear it again, or to hear it for the first time–whatever the case, here it is:

The one true aim in living

What is success?

What is the true aim in life?

What should one, setting out to make his way through this world—take as the goal of all his living and striving?

‘Views of life’ differ widely. Many think they are in this world to make a career for themselves. They set out with some splendid vision of success in their mind—and they devote their life to the realizing of this vision. If they fail in this, they suppose they have failed in life. If they achieve their dream—they consider themselves, and are considered by others, as successful.

The world has no other standard of success:
it may be the amassing of wealth;
it may be the winning of power among men;
it may be the triumph of a certain skill;
or genius in art, in literature, in music, etc.
But whatever the definite object may be, it is purely an earthly ambition.

Applying this standard to life—but few men are really successful. Great men are as rare as lofty mountain peaks. Only a few win the high places; the mass remain in the low valleys. Only a few win honor, rise into fame, and achieve ‘distinction’; while the great multitude remain in obscurity—or go down in the dust of earthly defeat.

Is this the only standard of success in life? Do all men, except for the few who win earth’s prizes, really fail? Is there no other kind of success? The world’s answer gives no comfort to those who find themselves among ‘the unhonored’.

But there is another sphere—there is a life in which success is not material—but spiritual. One may utterly fail, so far as earthly results are concerned; and yet, in the invisible spiritual realm—be a splendid winner in the race!

The true test of life—is character. Everything else is extraneous, belonging only to the husk, which shall fall off in the day of ripening! Character is the kernel, the wheat—that which is true and enduring. Nothing else is worth while—except that which we can carry with us through death, and into eternity!— 2 Corinthians 4:18

It is altogether possible that a man may fail of winning any earthly greatness, any distinction among men, anything that will immortalize him in this world’s calendars—and yet be richly and nobly successful in spiritual things, in character, in a ministry of usefulness, in things which shall abide—when mountains have crumbled into dust! It is possible for one to fall behind in the race for wealth and honor—and yet all the while to be building up in himself—an eternal fabric of beauty and strength!

What is the standard of success in the sphere of the unseen and the eternal? It is the doing of the will of God. He who does the will of God—makes his life radiant and beautiful, though in the world’s scale he is rated as having altogether failed in the battle. He who is true, just, humble, pure, pleasing God and living unselfishly—is the only man who really succeeds—while all others fail.

Really, there is no other final and infallible standard of living. One who writes his name highest in earth’s lists, and yet has not done God’s will—has failed, as God Himself looks at his career.

God had a purpose in our creation—and we only succeed, when our life carries out this purpose. The most radiant career, as it appears to men, means nothing—if it is not that for which God made us. We fail in life—if we do not realize God’s will for us.

We live worthily—only when we do what God sent us here to do. A splendid career in the sight of men—has no splendor in God’s sight!

Not the making of a fine worldly career, therefore—but the simple doing of God’s will—is the one true aim in living. Only thus can we achieve real success. If we do this, though we fail in the earthly race—we shall not fail in God’s sight. We may make no name among men, may raise for ourselves no monument of earthly glory—but if we please God by a life of obedience and humble service, and build up within us a character in which divine virtues shine, we shall have attained abiding success! (By J. R. Miller) THINK ABOUT IT!

As every student of the Bible knows, God has given parents the responsibility to raise and train their children. Although this has always been difficult it is getting more so. For centuries God’s plan has worked for those faithful to their duty. But, as is obvious, things have changed rapidly. As every parent knows, it is getting more and more difficult to keep children on the straight and narrow way.

For many years the job of parenting has been made difficult by the public school system and TV, but now there is another player involved that, according to some, poses an even greater threat–the Internet. Please go to this link and read the article by Josh McDowell: http://www.christianpost.com/news/apologist-josh-mcdowell-internet-the-greatest-threat-to-christians-52382 —what McDowell says should trouble us and motivate us to make some changes.

Long gone are the days when children depended on mom and dad for guidance and the formation of a value system. Back then they were sheltered from false teachers, etc., but we have now invited them into our home vie the Internet. Now children are exposed to everything imaginable. It is time for action! Don’t wait until it is too late. THINK ABOUT IT!

Americans have been blessed above all the nations on earth. We are a privileged people, and totally undeserving. We today have done nothing to create the “American way of life”. The blessings we enjoy are the result of what our forefathers did. We drink from the well they dug. We are reaping the fruit of their labor. We prosper because they suffered.

Now, however, we are in a struggle. What has been called “The American way of life” is being threatened. There is much at stake. For the past several years we have been divided, but more and more we Christian conservatives are becoming the minority. Most people today do not agree with our values, etc. At the current rate, soon we won’t be able to vote out the bad and install the good. We will have less and less power to direct our nation. As this division increases things could get ugly. There are strong feelings on both sides and many are willing to shed blood to get what they want. We have good reason to be greatly concerned about what lies ahead, especially as it relates to the welfare of our children and theirs.

Will they have the courage to stand, the wisdom to lead, the strength to endure, and the willingness to sacrifice? Will they be able to stem the tide and turn things around, or will they be crushed beneath the feet of the enemies? The answer to those questions depends largely on what we do. Our actions will have great ramifications for years to come. Just as we still reap the benefits of what our founders did, coming generations will either enjoy the blessings we provide, or endure the curse we cause by our failures.

We enjoy our blessings because someone else cared enough to do what was necessary to provide our freedom, our needs, and our security. Can we be so ungrateful as to refuse to do the same for the generations to come? Surely not. Let each of us then contribute however we can to the betterment of our beloved nation. We can’t afford to do otherwise.

We can’t all be president, but we can all vote. We can’t all govern a state, but we can get involved on a local level. We can’t all be the mayor of a city, but we can do our best to govern our own household. Each of us, through common acts of courtesy, charitable contributions, and conformity to God’s commandments, can make a big difference in our little part of the world–and that is no small matter. If ten righteous souls could have spared Sodom, perhaps we can be a part of the number that it takes to save America. If I didn’t believe that was possible there is a good chance that I would get discouraged and quit trying, but I believe that with all my heart. Whether you believe it or not will be revealed by the course you take. Those who care do, and those who don’t won’t. So, where do you stand?

After our evening service Sunday, someone sent me an email saying, ” I live for days like today!” I responded by saying, “Me too!” That morning we had seven come for church membership–3 by letter, 1 by statement, and 3 by baptism. During the evening service we had an excellent video presentation of church camp and testimonies from the counselors and campers before the message related to the Lord’s Supper. After the service one of our boys came to tell me that he had trusted Christ as his Savior at home the day before.

It was one of those days that we yearn for, one of those days we live for! Nothing is more exciting than seeing people saved and added to the church. A day like that makes you wish every Sunday would be the same. Who knows–it could be. There is no telling what great things God might do, if we do our part. If we repent of every known sin, live in obedience to God’s Word, worship Him “in spirit and truth”, and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, God will do amazing things. He will meet our needs and do things for us and through us that we never imagined. Indeed–when we do our part, God never fails to do His. Think about it!