home > the final goal
The Final Goal
After the long weeks of summer which we call the “Weeks after Pentecost”, I find myself a bit tired of these “green Sundays (the liturgical color that decorates the front of the Worship Center). Then I savor the richness of worship in the final weeks in November.
When November comes, everything changes. By this time we’ve covered most of the significant stories of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospel of Luke, and we begin to turn our attention to some significant issues. For instance, the first weekend in November is our celebration of All Saints Day (November 4). This is a bittersweet weekend when we recall our loved-ones who have died and joined the “great cloud of witnesses” in the glorious presence of our Lord.
When I gaze upon the picture of a dear friend who has died or hear the name of someone who I buried, my heart is pierced once more with sadness. Yet I am filled with the joy of anticipation for the day when we will be together again in God’s glorious presence. I find that All Saints Day prepares us to think about what is significant: death, heaven, and the “Last Days” before Christ comes again.
We find the next two Sundays after All Saints Day (November 11 & 18) focus on questions about heaven, resurrection, and in-between time. This year is no different. We will look at the moment when Jesus is asked questions about marriage in heaven and His teachings about how we should live as we await for His second coming.
This leads up to the most important day of all…Christ the King Sunday (November 25) which is the last day of the church year. It is the day that basically asks, “What significance does Jesus have in my life?” and “Is He the Lord of my life or is it all JUST talk?”
The liturgical year begins with the birth of Jesus; follows His ministry; the call of the disciples and their struggle to understand Jesus. In this teaching, we find their journey is our journey; their struggle to believe is our struggle; and their growing trust in Jesus is hopefully our growing trust. Culminating the year is Christ the King Sunday when we journey to the cross to see Jesus as a different kind of King— one who welcomes a thief into paradise and forgives the very ones who crucified Him. On Christ the King Sunday we examine whether or not this is the kind of King we want to follow.
This year we have set our goal to grow our spiritual fitness. November is a great month for us to consider the final goal of our fitness. The reasons why we strive to be disciples who follow Jesus. It is a month that reminds us that our time on earth is limited and we are here for a reason.
What’s more, when we focus on heaven and “end times”, we realize there is a purpose after this life as a means to prepare for the next. It all depends on whether or not we believe that Christ is the King…King of all time, King of the universe, and King of our hearts.
Let’s strive for Spiritual Fitness!
Pastor Mark