Press On

[12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Philippians 3:12–16  (ESV)

Human reality is in constant flux.  No state in our present experience is ever permanent.  In the good times, this is a negative characteristic.  Contrastingly, in hard times it is often a benefit to realize that your current circumstances aren’t always going to stay the same.  This has led to a saying “this too shall pass.”   This truism does not come from Scripture, though the idea that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and that suffering will pass (1 Corinthians 4:17-18) are biblical ideas.  Many times I have been comported by the thought that the hard things I’m going through are under God’s sovereign control (Ephesians 1:11) and that it won’t always be this way. 

Our passage today is a encouragement from the apostle Paul to leave the past behind as something better is ahead.  What he wants leave behind is the suffering under religion, when faith for him as a Jewish rabbi was about approaching God on his own merit. Previously, beginning in verse 8, he acknowledges that he has suffered the loss of all things.  He has left legalism behind, trying to earn the favor of God by what he does, and instead wants to depend on the righteousness of Christ.  He expects to suffer as he aligns himself with Christ because Christ suffered.  What he longs for is the resurrection from the dead, one day being raised with Christ to eternal life.  

As a Christian, I find myself often being caught up in the habits of faith.  Like Paul, do I need to leave pleasing God behind?   Am I praying enough, have I been sharing my faith with non-believers, am I sticking with my Bible reading plan, am I serving my church well, the practical ways of connecting with God, that I often take my eyes off the His grace filled gift to me-eternal life.  I’m not saying we shouldn’t reflect on our disciplines of faith, because sanctification is one of the ways we can partner with God on how He is transforming us, but how focused am I on my ultimate goal and the fact that I can’t earn it.  

My state

Paul mentions the obvious, I am not already resurrected, changed, perfected, complete, fully grown.  I have not entered into eternal life yet.  I’m not in heaven yet.  Christ hasn’t returned and called me home.  I’m still here, on earth, with a dual nature struggling against sin that still resides within me, the flesh, and my other enemies, the devil and the world.

My allegiance

What motivates Paul, and what should motivate us to press on toward heaven is has given all for me. Christ Jesus has made me his own.  And how did He make us His own? He purchased us with His blood on the cross when He was crucified for our sins.  Titus 2:4 tells us that His redemption purchased a people for Himself.  Our adoption into God’s family came at a price.  To honor Christ, I should desire what He has made possible to me as an act of worship. 

My task

My task is to press forward, forgetting what lies behind.  This doesn’t mean the believer never thinks about their past as a form of reflection, acknowledging in gratitude what God has done, but doesn’t go back to their former way of approaching God.  They don’t continue to try and earn God’s love or think back fondly of their old life of sin.  Galatians 4:9 extends this idea  when Paul reminds the Galatians not to turn back to the weak and worthless principals of the world after coming to know God.  They were attempting to turn back to following rules  and neglecting the principal that salvation is based on grace.  In that sense, we don’t look back to what never worked for us to begin with.  Only through the gospel, accepting the righteousness of Christ on our behalf, can we be saved.  

My goal 

Our goal is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus—eternal life.  We will receive the imperishable.  1 Corinthians 9:25 compares the life of faith to a race and though early athletes receive a token, a wreath, a medal,  it doesn’t last, where our reward endures.  We will receive eternal comfort, peace, and a nature free from sin.  1 Peter 1:10 promises that after suffering, we will share in the eternal glory of Christ and experience complete restoration.  

My attitude

Verse 15 gives us a way to evaluate our spiritual maturity.  Do we think this way in life?  Are we comfortable here on earth or are we longing for heaven? As I wait and press on, am I focused focused on receiving grace and not earning my salvation?  The extraordinary thing about God is that He will reveal our error when we aren’t thinking correctly.  If you are mature, you realize that you aren’t mature yet…if we define spiritual adulthood like this passage does, glorification.  Humility is part of maturity.  We are only to hold the progress we have made in understanding our state and where we are going, to spend eternity with Christ.