We Must Be People of Purpose

In the 1800’s, no business matched the financial and political dominance of the railroad. Trains dominated the transportation industry of the United States, moving both people and goods throughout the country. Then a new discovery came along, the car, and incredibly, the leaders of the railroad industry did not take advantage of their unique position to participate in the transportation development. The automotive revolution was happening all around them, and they did not use their industry dominance to take hold of the opportunity. In the video tape The Search for Excellence, Tom Peters points out the reason: the railroad barons did not understand what business they were in. Peter observes that “they thought they were in the train business. But, they were in fact in the transportation business. Time passed them by, as did opportunity. They couldn’t see what their real purpose was.

Some of you know that the same thing happened to the watch and clock industry. The Swiss had dominated time keeping. They controlled 90% of all revenues made in their industry. They made the most precise gears and springs in the world. Their watches and clocks were perfect. Then something new happened called the Quartz movement—LCD readout. Guess who invented it, a Swiss man, but because it had no gears or knobs or springs it was rejected. They failed to recognize that they were in the business of helping people tell time not making the precision gears. They lost their dominance in the industry. They now control 20% of all revenue. Seiko is the dominant leader.

If Sports Illustrated magazine understood it was in the sports information business, not the publishing business, we would have the Sports Illustrated Channel, not ESPN. Our purpose is to make disciples for Jesus Christ and if we loose our focus will be become obsolete. If we get distracted by tradition, habit, custom, ritual, routine, we will go the way of the trains, the Swiss, the Sports Illustrated. We must remember our basic identity. We must whenever, however, wherever—fulfill our basic purpose. That is why our mission statement starts with these words: Our purpose is that “All may know Jesus Christ and His love for you.” Churches need to be a place where God is seen, love is felt, and lives are changed. 

Every one of us is asked to be part of that team. None of us can sit on the sidelines without getting into the game of life. It is a matter of life and death for those who do not have a relationship to Jesus Christ. This church must be empowered by the Holy Spirit and going out to the streets with spiritual power and authority. The Holy Spirit compels us to go. “Go” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

Go with God,

Pastor Qualley