What are Your Goals? What Are You Chasing? 2 Kings 17:15.

Did you know there is a connection between the pursued and the pursuer? One will take on the traits of the other.

Remember playing tag?  All the children darting this way and that?  Remember being “IT” and trying to anticipate the moves people would use: you tell yourself, if he pivots left, I’ll be ready, but then he pivots right and you miss him? Then you play football and it’s all about catching the man with the ball. Chasing people can be so much fun.

Sometimes we do not chase a person, but a goal: being the first across the finish line. Building the fastest car.  Chasing a competing company: CBS wants to catch NBC. Apple wants to catch Microsoft. Twitter wants to catch Facebook.  

A connection develops between the chase-er and the chase-ee. The pursuer adopts the characteristics of the pursued.  It’s like the hunting guide who says the secret to duck hunting is to think like a duck:

“BECOME THE DUCK.”

If you want to tag the child ahead of you, you get inside his head to predict whether he will pivot left or right. If you want to beat a competing company, you copy what they are doing to beat them at their own game. You become like the competition.  Sometimes you become like them on purpose—but often you do it unconsciously. 

You become what you pursue. Spouses become more alike, the longer they live together. Whether we intend to or not, humans take on the traits of the one on which we focus our attention.

YOU BECOME THE THING YOU WORSHIP.

If it’s true that you become what your pursue, then the object of your pursuit better be something of VALUE. Israel pursued worthlessness and lost their value:

“They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves” 2 Kings 17:15.

Are you chasing the popular crowd? Or chasing the rich? Are you trying to be accepted by the guys, but the guys are ruthless?  Or are you chasing hard after Christ? Are you trying to be a faithful husband? A loving dad? A friend who has time for people?

“If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and FOLLOW ME” Luke 9:23.

What are your goals?  Because you will BECOME the thing that you pursue.  Chase the right things! Pursue Christ and your life will become infinitely valuable as you become like Him.

ΑΩ