Awhile back my husband and I watched an inspiring movie called Life of a King.
It’s the story of a man whose life is transformed by chess–yes chess! Eugene Brown learns how to play chess while in prison. When he gets out, he finds work as a janitor at a local high school filled with students who don’t seem to care about school, learning, or life. Eugene gets roped into monitoring detention hall after school and proves unexpectedly persuasive in corralling the unruly students. But wanting to do more than just keep order, he starts to teach the students the game of chess–even forming a chess club at the school.
Whenever Eugene Brown coaches the students on chess strategy, he tells them, “Begin with the end in mind.” You see, the best chess players can see the end of the match when they move their first piece on the board.
Begin with the end in mind. Excellent advice for chess–and for life.
Those words remind me of the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians:
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 4:13-14
You see, too often I’m only thinking about my next move in life. How can I get the next piece of my life in the right position for success? How can I get all the parts of my life aligned for greater accomplishment? I’m distracted by urgent.
Instead, I need to focus on what is truly important. What will matter not only now, but in eternity.
Which option gets me closer to the heavenly prize? Which activity, which attitude, which action brings me closer to the King–Jesus Christ.
Begin with the end in mind. How might that look in real life?
Maybe it means abandoning an organizing project I have planned–because stuff doesn’t last forever–and instead meeting a friend for lunch–because people do.
Maybe it means caring less about crossing off items on my to-do list and more about crossing the street to get to know my neighbors who may not know Jesus.
Maybe it means thinking less about what I need to accomplish and more about who I am–the beloved daughter of the Most High King.
Maybe it simply means having an eternity mindset. We are not made for this world. Each of us was created to live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. Yes, we are still living out our lives on the chess board of life, but we won’t be here always. The God of grace reached down and rescued us so that we don’t have to live confined to an existence where we are totally responsible for our victory. Jesus already made the winning move which guarantees our triumph.
We aren't responsible for our victory. Jesus already made the winning move which guarantees our triumph! Click To Tweet
Instead of being distracted by all the things in my messy present, I need to focus on my forever future.
Instead of being distracted by all the things in my messy present, I need to focus on my forever future. Click To Tweet
Begin with the end in mind.
Next step: How can you begin with the end in mind today? How can you “press on to win the race”? What choices or activities do you have today that could benefit from an eternity mindset?
If you would like to learn more about avoiding distractions and living a focused life, check out my new book Distracted: Finding Faith-Focus Habits for a Frenzied World on Amazon.The ebook is only $3.99!
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