Forget

“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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14)

Life is never static – it changes all around us. Looking back at my journey on this planet, so many things have changed along the way – jobs, houses, friends, goals, desires. What I thought was so very important in my 20’s may not even be on my radar anymore. That’s ok – as we grow and mature our thoughts should change.

Paul is writing here about something that should never change – what our ultimate goal of life here and in the next world is. That is to live in the life and calling of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Even that may change over the course of our life. Where He had you laboring in 10 years ago may be different than today.

But are we living in a way that we are listening for His call and direction in our life? I know that I become busier with work or other projects it is so easy for my morning time to go away. It becomes easer to justify why “just for today” I can do without. That’s like saying “I don’t need food today – I’ll eat tomorrow!”

The other concept in Paul’s writing here is that of finishing well. Oh, how many projects I’ve started over my life that end up falling by the wayside. I suspect I’m not alone. Paul also writes in this chapter of Philippians about how our salvation is not based on genetics or Jewish laws. In fact, Paul lists his qualifications since he had everything you would want it genetics and law were it. He had the perfect lineage, education, and passion for the law yet he realized he could not trust them or his works, but could only trust Christ alone.

Paul could have preached on grace alone to make himself and others around him feel better, but he chose to write and teach on the hard things: Living with a single-minded determination that Christ alone was enough.

Live today in such a way that it’s part of your goal to finish well, with your eyes on the eternal prize.