Successful people plan ahead. Planning for tomorrow is good business practice. Sometimes governments plan ahead. One should plan ahead as best as possible. There is no promise of tomorrow, nor what it will bring (James 4:13–14). That being understood, the people of God should have a plan (Luke 14:28).
The apostle Paul told the church in ancient Philippi to work until the day of Jesus Christ. From generation to generation, God’s people are to be about the work of the Lord. Theologian Martin Luther wrote about God’s being “from age to age the same,” so from age to age His work is to go forward in the same evangelistic way. Why? Because God does not change (James 1:17), and neither does Jesus the Christ (Heb. 13:8).
Every age has its pressures. Demas felt those pressures 2,000 years ago (II Tim. 4:10). This has not changed through all the ages. Admit it—the world has appeal, but Christians are called out of the world to love God (I John 1:15). Yes, feelings got hurt way back then, as they do now (Matt. 5:23–24). Stringent requirements of the Gospel were challenging then as now, but the image of one running a race is set before us (Heb. 12:1–2). While some look to retire, the Christian has no retirement plan in Christ. We are to run the race to the end. It has always been an endurance race and not a sprint. “The one who endures to the end will be saved,” said Jesus (Matt. 10:22). You see, Jesus clearly taught a long game. Can you imagine what would be said about a runner in the Olympics who would stop mid-race and take a break? The commitment is to go all the way to the end.
Helping to get those who would run the race to the end is a promise (Heb. 13:5). There is a promise and a prize waiting for those enduring ones (Heb. 13:5; Phil. 3:14). From the beginning of the church—and even just before—Jesus promised to be with those who follow Him. That is a great promise, one that stays with us even unto death. There will be trials and tribulations for a while, yet faithfulness is expected until death (Rev. 2:10). Faithfulness until the “day of the Lord” (II Pet. 3:10). That is the long game.
The long game in Christ involves planning for tomorrow through evangelism today. It involves planning for tomorrow through disciplined living today. Plan for tomorrow through education today. Plan for tomorrow by setting noble objectives today, and plan to win the race—not to lose it. Success is realized through disciplined focus on the prize, not through looking upon the distracting things around us in the world. Everyone needs a plan, and that plan needs to be for the long haul. In other words, plan for the long game. What is your plan?
This is the time of year when many set objectives—resolutions. Now is a good time to evaluate life and set a plan to get to Heaven. That is the long game!
David Hill
President
Tennessee Bible College