I recently saw my old coach whom I love and respect. He seemed even closer to Christ and his faith more vibrant than the last time I saw him. He is 67 and still desires to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. It gives me great optimism. My coach will never change. For him to change would be to stop moving forward, to stop desiring God. He knows he is on a journey, he knows where his citizenship rests.

Can we grasp how hard it is, and yet how fundamental it is to progress? Our brains, bodies, and even friends resist our transformation. Habit, routine, and a planned agenda give a sense of security. The older we get, the harder change becomes. It is much easier to transplant a sapling than a mature tree.

We should orient our lives so we always progress. Recognize we are on a lifetime development plan. As we walk with God, we’ll understand that He will challenge us in order to transform us. If we put God at the center of our routines, our security will be in the eternal. Our finish line is nothing short of heaven’s gates, and our spiritual training is a lifetime.