Text: Genesis 12:5

Introduction:
  I. Give a brief discussion of the context of the text.
 II. In the latter part of this verse, we have the basic
     ingredients of a successful life – a goal toward which 
     we reach (they went forth to go…) and unfailing effort 
     until that goal is reached (into the land of Canaan…).
III. In this lesson we will consider these two essential
     elements of success.

Body:
 I. Success in life demands setting proper goals.
    A. Illustration: Absent-minded business man on the
       train, couldn’t find his ticket – So many in life 
       need someone or something to tell them where they 
       are going.
    B. What goals should we set for ourselves?
       1. If asked, probably all of us would say – “My goal
          is to go to heaven.”
       2. That’s great – Philippians 3:13-14 – but that is 
          a long-range goal, and most of us need short-
          range goals.
       3. An insurance salesman might set a goal – will be 
          earning $200,000 a year in 15 years.  But if that 
          man is going to succeed, he must set some short 
          term goals that are realistic – I will have to 
          sell so much insurance the first year, then so 
          much the second year, will have this much in five 
          years, etc…. His hope of reaching his long-term 
          goal depends so much on his setting and reaching 
          short-term goals.
       4. So with the goal of heaven – Realistic short-term
          goals will help in reaching the ultimate goal.
    C. Which leads to the question, “What goals will you
       try to reach in your effort to reach the ultimate 
       goal of heaven.
       1. Again, our answers would be similar.
       2. “I’m going to get a knowledge of the Bible.”  
          That’s great. Matthew 7:21; John 17:17; 12:48.
       3. “I’m going to lead others to Christ.”  A great
          goal.
       4. “I’m going to become more spiritually minded.”
       5. These would still have to be categorized as long-
          term goals – Somehow we need to be more specific, 
          even setting for ourselves reasonable timetables 
          toward certain accomplishments in the Lord’s 
          service.
    D. Someone might be saying, “OK, give us some 
       reasonable short-term goals for us to shoot at.”
       1. How about this one – to have an over-all view of 
          the whole Bible by the end of this next decade?  
          Explain further what I mean.
       2. But you can’t wait till the ninth year to start. 
          Set up a timetable.  10 years – 4 quarters a year 
          – 40 quarters – but 66 books – obviously have to 
          cover more than one book a quarter – but some 
          books are lengthy, would require a full quarter 
          or more – Some review essential. Now you have the 
          facts, work out your own timetable, devote 
          regular study periods to staying in that 
          timetable ---- Remind yourself: “I’m studying 
          this book now so that in 10 years I will have an 
          overall concept of the Bible – because I know 
          this will be a help to me in going to heaven.”
    E. We have established that success demands setting
       goals, but…

II. Success in life demands also unfailing effort until the
    goal is reached.
    A. It’s one thing to sit here and dream of what we
       would like to achieve – its another thing to do it. 
       “They went forth…and into the land they came.”
    B. What does it take to carry out our goals.
       1. Faith in God and reliance upon Him. John 15:5; 
          Philippians 4:13; James 4:13-15.  We go into our 
          work, praying, recognizing the uncertainty of the 
          future, leaning on the everlasting arms of God.
       2. Determination – Some are just weak in will power;
          never seem to really make up their minds to do 
          anything; like rivers, just flowing in the way of 
          least resistance.
       3. Initiative – the hardest thing about mowing the 
          grass is getting started.  Same with most tasks.  
          Ecclesiastes 9:10.
       4. Perseverance – Don’t give up.  1 Corinthians
          15:58
    C. These are exactly the qualities Abraham had to have
       to reach his goal.
       1. Faith – Never seen the land, didn’t know where it 
          was, but believed God would lead him to it and it 
          would be perfectly suited for his needs.
       2. Determination – What obstacles he faced, we 
          cannot know – storms, dry spells, mountains, 
          rivers?
       3. Initiative – Had to start.
       4. Perseverance – Kept going until he reached his
          destination.

Conclusion: Illustration: Marksman passes through country, 
sees evidence of the greatest marksmanship he has ever seen 
– targets on trees, barns, fences, with bullet holes right 
in the center of everyone of them – found the man.  “Easy” 
he replied, “I shoot first; then draw circles of the target 
around the hole.”
Too many people in life are shooting without any aim, then 
try to draw circles of life around that which they aimlessly 
hit.  We must determine to do otherwise.