“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.” — Psalm 27:4
In life, we can have many ambitions.
We may want to become successful, wealthy, respected, educated, or famous. We may dream of owning a beautiful home, driving a good car, building a successful career, or achieving something significant.
There is nothing wrong with having dreams and working hard. But as Christians, we must ask ourselves a deeper question:
What is the one great goal of my life?
The Archer Who Saw Only One Thing
There is a story about a king who gathered some of the greatest archers from different countries for a competition.
The king placed a small bird in a difficult position and challenged the archers to hit the bird’s head with a single arrow.
One by one, the contestants came forward.
Before each man could shoot, the king asked him:
“What do you see?”
One archer answered that he could see the bird, the tree, and the surrounding area.
Another said that he could see the bird, the sky, and everything around him.
The king dismissed them.
Finally, another champion came forward.
The king asked him the same question:
“What do you see?”
The man replied:
“I see only the head of the bird.”
The king told him to shoot.
His arrow flew directly toward the target, and he hit it.
He became the champion.
The lesson is simple but powerful:
When you have a clear target, you must learn to keep your eyes on it.
The other archers were distracted by everything around them. The champion focused on one thing.
Our spiritual lives can be the same way.
What Is Your One Goal?
Many people spend their lives pursuing temporary things.
They want more money.
They want recognition.
They want a bigger house.
They want a better car.
They want popularity and influence.
But if these things become the ultimate goal of our lives, we can miss what matters most.
The Christian life has a greater calling.
Our goal is to become like Jesus.
The message of the Gospel is not simply that we should receive blessings from Christ. We are called to follow Christ, know Him, and allow His character to be formed in us.
The question is not merely:
“What can Jesus give me?”
The deeper question is:
“How can I become more like Jesus?”
The source repeatedly brings the message back to this single aim: “I must become like Jesus.”
Don’t Let Distractions Steal Your Focus
Just as the archers could see many things around the target, we also live surrounded by distractions.
There are responsibilities, ambitions, relationships, entertainment, worries, possessions, and countless voices competing for our attention.
These things can slowly move our eyes away from Christ.
We may begin with a desire to follow Jesus, but then become consumed with success.
We may want to serve God, but become more concerned about people’s approval.
We may desire holiness, but become distracted by worldly desires.
That is why we need spiritual focus.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 tells believers to fix their eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
When Christ becomes our focus, other things begin to fall into their proper place.
The Story of Cyrus: A Life Driven by One Purpose
The message also refers to Cyrus, the Persian king, whose story appears in the Bible.
Cyrus was raised in circumstances very different from the position he eventually occupied. Yet the story illustrates an important principle: a person’s circumstances do not have to determine the ultimate direction of their life.
The sermon uses Cyrus’s determination to become king as an illustration of what focused desire can accomplish. Once he understood the direction of his life, he was no longer content to remain where he had been.
For the Christian, however, our highest ambition is not an earthly throne.
Our greatest ambition should be Christlikeness.
We are called to pursue something far greater than worldly status.
What Does It Mean to Become Like Jesus?
To become like Jesus means allowing His character to be reflected in our lives.
We need His purity.
We need His humility.
We need His love.
We need the sacrificial love demonstrated at Calvary.
We need His compassion, obedience, patience, forgiveness, and holiness.
The goal is not simply to look like Christians on the outside.
The goal is for the character of Christ to be formed within us.
The source specifically highlights the desire for Jesus’ purity, humility, Calvary-like love, and beautiful character to be formed within the believer.
“One Thing Is Necessary”
In the Gospels, Jesus told Martha that only one thing was necessary and that Mary had chosen the good portion.
That statement challenges us.
We can become so busy doing things for God that we forget to spend time with God.
We can become busy serving, preaching, singing, organizing, leading, and working—but lose sight of the One we are serving.
Christ Himself must remain our focus.
Service without Christlike character can become empty.
Ministry without the character of Christ can eventually fail.
Before asking God to use us greatly, we should ask Him to transform us deeply.
The sermon makes this point strongly: ministry without the character of Christ ultimately becomes a failure.
We Have Been Called for a Purpose
The Bible reminds believers that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession.
We have been called out of darkness into His wonderful light so that we may declare His praises.
Our lives therefore have a purpose.
We are not here simply to accumulate possessions, build reputations, or achieve earthly success.
We are here to know God, glorify Him, and reflect Christ to the world.
Psalm 27:4 gives us a beautiful picture of a heart with one great desire: to seek the Lord and dwell in His presence.
That kind of focused desire changes a life.
What Is Your Target Today?
The question for every believer is personal:
What are you looking at?
Are you looking at your problems?
Are you looking at the opinions of others?
Are you looking at worldly success?
Are you looking at your failures?
Or are you looking at Jesus?
Like the champion archer, we must learn to see the target clearly.
There may be many things around us, but our spiritual eyes must remain fixed on Christ.
When the goal is clear, distractions lose their power.
When Jesus is our focus, our choices begin to change.
When becoming like Christ becomes our greatest desire, we begin to pursue purity, humility, love, holiness, and obedience.
A Prayer for a Focused Heart
Lord Jesus,
Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You.
There are many things competing for my attention, but I want You to be the greatest desire of my heart.
Give me Your purity.
Give me Your humility.
Give me Your love.
Form Your character in me.
Help me not to become distracted by temporary things, but to pursue what has eternal value.
May my greatest ambition not be worldly success, recognition, or possessions, but to become more like You.
Let my life reflect Your character and bring glory to Your name.
Jesus, You are my goal.
Amen.
Final Thought
The champion archer succeeded because he knew exactly what he was aiming for.
As followers of Christ, we also need one clear spiritual target.
Not merely success.
Not merely blessings.
Not merely ministry.
Not merely recognition.
Jesus.
Let the prayer of our hearts be:
“Lord, I want to become more like Jesus.”
When that becomes our one great aim, everything else can be brought into its proper place.
