Pursue your goals in this life but remember – the greatest goal of all is the pursuit of Jesus Christ, and we must set eternal goals in this lifetime.
This was the message preached two Sundays ago by Minister Perma Jordan during a wonderful, spirit-filled service at United Zion Holy Church, Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, St Michael.
Among the congregation were members of the Ellerslie Secondary School Alumni, along with headmaster Major Errol Brathwaite, current and past teaching staff.
It was a service filled with lots of praise and worship in song, especially by the church’s choir. Caught up in the spirit, the energetic congregation moved in rhythm with feet a-dancing and hands a-clapping giving glory to God.
Jordan told the congregation that in setting goals, one must include the past, present and future.
She took her main text from Philippians 3:11 to 16 as she spoke about Paul’s bid to “press toward the goal that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus”.
According to her, “Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that goals in this present life are good but we must also look at setting eternal goals”.
Jordan spoke of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus after a lifetime persecuting the followers of Jesus Christ.
She acknowledged that following his conversion, his was a life surrendered to God and his goal was to know God in His fullness, while living to please him.
“To have the knowledge of Christ became Paul’s goal – and the same zeal he had when he persecuted the church, he later possessed as he pursued God.”
She stressed that while Paul acknowledged his genealogy, his circumcision and ability to “boast of many things”, he later counted these as lost “in the light of his new goal of following Christ and being more like Him”.
Jordan pointed out that Paul asked those to whom he preached to imitate him by following his good examples, and said believers in Christ should do the same.
Turning to members of the alumni, she told them: “I am sure you have goals set for your school. As important as they may be, one thing you have to do is forget those things which are behind you and make sure you [are] numbered among the saints of God.
“At the end of your goals, be sure that you can say, ‘I have fought a good fight. I have finished the course; I have won the race’. Let people be aware there is a God.”
Jordan also honoured those in the teaching profession and urged them to do their best to educate the youth. She told them they “cannot make it without God, and “it is very important to take hold of the calling of God, as it is the highest calling in life.”
“Pursue God,” she reiterated.
Special prayers were offered to the alumni by church leader Reverend St Clair Howell before the conclusion of the service.
