TEXT: Philippians 3:12-21 (CSB) – “ Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”
We have taken the sideroads in this passage. Now, after these sideroads, we come to the meat of the matter – pressing to the mark!
We must realize some important considerations to understand the importance of this admonition.
First, realize that we will never in this body be perfect or sinless. And then Paul challenges us to become focused and forget.
In verse 13 above Paul said – “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”
Become Focused. “But one thing I do…”
The Christian life is a simple life. So, why do we strive to make it hard? What do we need? Paul says:
· “I want to know Christ” (Verse 10)
· “To live Christ” (1:21)
OK, Paul, how do we do this?
· “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (2:5)
· “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6)
In other words, according to the old cliché – “Let go and Let God!” Become focused on Christ, and forget the past. Think about Paul’s past.
Boy – he could have been down on himself – all the things he did. He called himself the “chief sinner” at one point of time. Yet, he accepted the forgiveness that Christ offered.
Our God is the God of the Second Chance
“But, really, God couldn’t forgive me” – are you calling God a liar? Whom are you going to believe? God or yourself? Who can you truly trust – God or yourself?
First, realize that we will never in this body be perfect or sinless – Then, become focused and forget –
Finally, Go for the Gold!
“Straining toward what is ahead.” (Marshal paraphrase).
· Don’t rest on your past achievements
· Don’t let the guilt get you down
· Go for the Gold!
“I pursue as my goal the prize.” Like a track star – go for the gold. What kind of Olympic hopeful runs for just the fun of it? He is going for the gold.
(JUST A SIDE NOTE – this is not talking about salvation. Salvation is a free gift.)
This has to do with the fact that one day we will stand before Christ. If you think you can live a careless Christian life and not have any answer for it, you are entirely mistaken. One of these days, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account for the way that we lived our lives.
We had better get on with living for Him – Go for the Gold!
First, realize that we will never in this body be perfect and sinless. Then, become focused and forget. Finally, Go for the Gold!
Going for the Gold is accepting that we are “God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus….” What is this?
It is threefold:
1. Repentance to Salvation (Acts 17:30) – “Now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
2. Complete dedication – (Rom. 12: 1,2) – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
3. God calls us to specific spheres of service (2 Tim. 1:11) – “And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.”
When we sense the call of God in some area of our life, we should quickly respond to it. Today, Go for the Gold!
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