Our only legitimate goal

     If we are not our own, but the Lord's, it is clear to what purpose all 

our deeds must be directed.  We are not our own, therefore neither our 

reason nor our will should guide us in our thoughts and actions.  We are 

not our own, therefore we should not seek what is only expedient to the 

flesh.  We are not our own, therefore let us forget ourselves and our own 

interests as fast as possible.

     We are God's own; to him, therefore, let us live and die.  We are God's 

own; therefore, let his wisdom and will dominate all our actions.  We 

are god's own; therefore let every part of our existence be directed 

towards him as our only legitimate goals.

     Oh, how greatly we have advanced when we have learned not to be 

our own, not to be governed by our own reason, but to surrender our 

minds to God!  The most effective poison to lead us to ruin is to boast 

in ourselves, in our own wisdom and will power.  The only escape to 

safety is simply to follow the guidance of the Lord.

     Our first step should be to take leave of ourselves and to apply all 

of our powers to the service of the Lord.  The service of the Lord does

not only include implicit obedience, but also a willingness to put aside 

our sinful desires to surrender completely to the leadership of the 

Holy Spirit.

     The transformation of our lives by the Holy Spirit, which St. 

Paul calls the renewal of the mind, is  the real beginning of life but 

foreign to pagan philosophers.  The philosophers set up reason as 

the sole guide of life, of wisdom and conduct.  but Christian 

philosophy demands of us that we surrender our reason to the Holy 

Spirit.  This means that we no longer live of ourselves, but that 

Christ lives and reigns within us (Eph. 4:23; Gal. 2:20)

                     John Calvin, Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life

Who is John Calvin?  Calvin, 1509-1564, a theologian and reformer, 

was French by birth, but most of his productive years were in 

Geneva, Switzerland.  He was an early and prominent influence 

during the Protestant Reformation through his biblical 

commentaries, sermons, theological tracts.  He is regarded as the 

forefather of Presbyterianism.

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