In addition to true faith, a right choice, and a firm, unyielding purpose, every winning Christian “soldier of the cross” needs to look forward to the reward. Life as a Christian is hard and it can be overwhelming at times but if we focus on the reward that is promised to us, it will help motivate us to stand strong.

Our assurance of heaven is gloriously enhanced by keeping our eyes fixed on the reward.

“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18, ESV)

The bible tells us that having a clear vision of Jesus and the rewards promised to us is paramount to success.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2, ESV)

All the great men and women of the past, were people of vision. All of them were people of great faith and vision but isn’t that just the same thing. To be a person of vision or faith is to see what God’s plan for your life is all about and being courageous enough to reach for it.

Abraham was a man of faith. Heb. 11:8-10 shows us that he was a man of great vision as well as faith. Abraham spent his life looking for a city that had God as its builder. Even Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see his day and that he got to see it (John 8:56).

Perhaps the most forward thinking, visionary men of the scriptures, apart from God himself, was Moses. No one in scripture spoke more about “things to come” than him. No one emphasized the promises of God more than he. Heb. 11:23-29 tells us that insight and vision were the keys to his success. Moses was a man totally consumed by looking forward to what God was going to do (God’s promises). Once he accepted God’s call for his life (he was 80 years old at the time), Moses never forgot what his work was about. He never doubted his goal and always kept his eyes on the prize.

Like Moses, Paul was a man of vision. He never forgot his goal, or as he put it “I press on toward the goal for the prize…” (Phil. 3:14). He didn’t lose sight of his mission and allowed it to drive him forward even when he didn’t feel like doing it.

The value of keeping our eyes on the prize cannot be clearly expressed. It is vital to our success. Therefore, let me encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize; to focus on the reward God has promised us.