At the early age of fifteen, John Goddard wrote down the things he wanted to accomplish in life. There 127 items on his list. He then set about making plans to reach those goals. Some were fairly simple. Become an Eagle Scout. Type fifty words a minute. Visit a movie studio. Hold breath under water for two and 1/2 minutes.

Some were more difficult. Milk a rattle snake. Read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. Sail the South Seas in a schooner. Learn to speak French and Spanish.

Several seemed downright impossible. Climb Mt. Everest. Visit every country in the world. Find Noah's Ark. Walk on the moon.

At the time this story was published, John Goddard had reached nearly all of his goals including walking on the moon! He has demonstrated real perseverance. He has achieved success in life because of planning. He formulated a list of goals, wrote them down, and then worked out a plan of action of how to reach each one of them.

This story is of interest to me because I happen to believe that serving God effectively and getting to heaven depends upon that very thing - goal setting and planning. We simply do not wander around in life haphazardly and wind up in heaven accidentally. It is not the result of mere daydreaming, but of conscious desire, visualization and careful planning. I do not believe that anyone will ever get to heaven who does not plan to go there. I believe that the apostle Paul planned to go to heaven. I believe that this was his main goal in life. To the Philippians he wrote: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil.3-.13, 14). One version uses the word 11 goal" instead of "mark." Then in the next verse he adds, "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. . . ."

Paul had set his course with heaven as his destination. He kept his eyes on this goal. Are you of the same mind? Is Heaven your goal? Are you planning to go to heaven? Are you earnestly working your plan? Are you a little closer to heaven today than you were yesterday? Are you seeking those things which are above rather than the things of the earth? All other goals should be but stepping stones to our ultimate goal - Heaven. Take a sheet of paper and write it down. Write, "Heaven is my ultimate goal in life." Write it down and keep it where it is constantly before you as a reminder. Think about what you must do to reach that goal - the steps you must take. Write them all down. If you are not already a Christian, write down: "I will become a Christian. This is my first step." Write down what you must do to become a Christian and when you expect to reach that goal. Don't stop there.

Next, you need to realize that there are things that every Christian needs to do to grow and develop. In I Peter 1, beginning with verse 5, there are what we call the "Christian Graces - faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity or love. These are worthy goals to achieve by every Christian. Study your Bible for other things to do and steps to take. Write them down. It may be that you are already a mature Christian and we are seeking for ways to serve God better. You may want to become a teacher of God's word, or a preacher, a song leader, or an elder in the church or a deacon. Write it down. Make it a life goal. Once you reach one goal, set your sights on greater goals, but always keep your sights on your ultimate goal -- HEAVEN.