A few years ago I recognized that Natalie, my special-needs daughter, was growing in stature. It was getting more difficult to lift her up and care for her. She is 15 years old now, and still only 75 pounds, but each day requires a lot of lifting, moving, positioning, and holding her.
When she doesn’t want to do something, like get out of the bathtub, it requires a lot of effort to help her. She has many medical issues, including seizures, that require physical strength and stamina, on our part. And although I was fit and ran thousands of miles a year, I knew I needed to revamp my fitness regimen to include more strength work.
So I made a goal. “I want to be strong enough to always care for my special-needs daughter.”
The goal was only the first step in the process. The next step was putting things in place to achieve that goal. I would need to spend more time in the weight room. I would need to include exercises to improve my range of motion and flexibility. I would need to maintain a healthy diet that would promote lean body mass and muscle repair.
And over the last several years I have become stronger. But I haven’t been as consistent as I have wanted to be. And why is that? It is because I haven’t always had my eyes on the goal. I often forget why I am doing it in the first place. And it becomes difficult to maintain motivation and consistency when I take my eyes off that goal.
But the goal is also only the first step. I can’t just say I want to be strong without putting a plan in place. I can’t have a goal without doing the things that create strength.
It can be the same with our faith.
“For Messiah is the goal of the Torah unto righteousness to everyone who believes.” – Romans 10:4
We need to have Yahusha (Jesus) as our goal. At all times. Or we miss the point of the Torah. If you have heard me talk about the Torah, it is an important focus in the life of a believer. The Torah is a guide, or the instructions, of the Most High. It is the “workout plan,” one could say, that Yahuah gave us to live stronger and more fruitful lives. And like all workout plans, we need to do the Torah (not just hear it) if we are to be declared right.
“For not the hearers of the Torah are declared righteous in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of the Torah shall be declared right.” – Romans 2:13
But most of us know this. As a coach and former athlete, I understand that you cannot expect success if you are not doing the things that create success in your workout plan. How can you get faster if you don’t run enough? How do you lose weight if you don’t take those donuts and sugared drinks out of your diet? It just won’t happen.
And I have also realized that I am more likely to stick to a plan if I have a clear goal in mind. Therefore, I need to designate the telos of my walk. In the Greek, Romans 10:4 says that Messiah is the “telos” of the Torah (or law).
Telos (Strongs 5056) – the point aimed at achieving.
In Romans 10:4, many modern Bible translations say “Christ is the end of the law.” But the proper translation of telos is that He is the “goal” or “aim” of the law. You could even say that He is the “end result” of the law.
You see, having our eyes on the Messiah, helps us to do the behavior He modeled for us. It helps us to look more like Him. And that is our goal! Our focus should always be on Yahusha, our Redeemer, and looking more like Him!
To do that, He has expectations for us…
“If you love Me, you shall guard my commands.” – John 14:15
“If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love, even as I have guarded my Father’s commands, and stay in His love.” – John 15:10
We are told to guard His commands, if we love Him. This takes effort. It takes wisdom and discernment. This is the action plan, or workout plan, that He expects of us. This isn’t works-based salvation. We cannot save ourselves, only He can do that. But as a saved individual, you are expected to produce fruit, and that takes effort.
We have a lot of people out there saying they believe in Messiah. But has their behavior changed? Are they doing the works that He prepared for us?
“For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yahusha UNTO GOOD WORKS, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10
I love my daughter. And that is why I want to get stronger, so that I can care for her as she grows. She is the telos of my strength training. And if I keep my eyes on her, it helps me to maintain my workout regimen.
I love Yahusha. He is my savior. And if I keep my eyes on Him, it also helps me to guard His commands, which is the Torah. When I sin (transgress the Torah), it’s usually because I have lost sight of my savior. We need to have obedience. But it should also be for a reason. And that reason is Yahusha.
So, whatever you are doing in life, whether it be a workout plan, a job, family errands, or especially your faith walk, keep your eyes on the telos (goal). Read the Word, do the Word, and the rest will take care of itself!
FAITH IN MOTION 