Let me start this out by asking a question: What is the central goal and primary task of the child of God? Based on my reading of God’s word, I would say that all of the things that a Christian should be doing can be summarized as producing the fruit of righteousness and of the Spirit. The verse below is just one example of many that speaks to this process of bearing fruit and why we must be actively involved in it.
Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4 (NASB)
According to Wiktionary.org, to “lose the plot” means To cease to behave in a consistent and/or rational manner and To lose sight of an important objective or principle. Using this definition and my observation of the world around me, I wonder if many of us have lost the plot of what it means to be a Christian.
Do we think about how we might be useful to God in terms of our time and talents? (Not that he needs anything from us, but that he chooses to use us and involve us in his divine plan if we are so willing) Do we spend as much time and energy on Kingdom pursuits as we do on earthly matters or are they more of an afterthought? All of the stuff and things in our residences and those numbers in our checkbooks, do they belong to us or do they belong to God?
These are difficult questions for most of us, and if I am honest, somewhat uncomfortable. I know that I am sometimes in danger of losing the plot. I know that I meander about and am not always moving forward in a straight line like I should. I also know I have to be careful here and not point a finger at anyone other than myself. I don’t have the ability to judge what is in someone else’s heart but I know, based on my experience, that human nature makes all of us prone to get distracted and to focus our time and energies on things that don’t bear fruit.
The good news is that there is an easy remedy to any Christian who is in danger of losing the plot. We just need to remember why we are here and why we have been called and by whom. Jesus Christ is the answer. Focus on Jesus. Pursue Jesus. Love Jesus. Do these things and we will be where we need to be and we will be doing what we need to do.