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Staying the Course (Philippians 3:12-16)
There are certain texts that might be considered
key to the Christian life. James' advice about godly wisdom; Jude's concern
about error in the church; Paul's advice to the Corinthians about order
in the church. This too is one of those key passages essential to the
serious-minded Christian.
"All of us who are mature should take such a view
of things" (v.15)
Some Christians can give the impression that they have "arrived" and are
simply waiting for the glory train. There is a real danger of spiritual
pride in such thinking. Paul makes it clear that even he had spiritual
progress to make if he was to attain the goal (v.12)
Calling the Philippian believers "Brothers" he clearly identifies with
them (and with us) and willingly acknowledges the challenges he and we
face together. He knows how easy it can be to dwell on the past and he
encourages them and us:
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what
is ahead" (v.13)
Paul wasn't locked into the past and neither should we be. This is not
a denial of what has happened in our past. Paul himself has just written
about his own past to teach a valuable lesson (vv 1-11). But his past
wasn't going to hold him back and neither should ours hinder our own progress.
Paul reminds us that we have a goal and that we are called heavenwards
by God (v.14) and, using the picture of an athlete, he urges us to be
single-minded in pursuit of our heavenly goal. We cannot look forwards
and back at the same time and if we look back we lose sight of that for
which Christ took hold of us.
It is typical of Paul that he should make the pragmatic observation that
there would be some points on which people would think differently. Also
typical is his complete confidence that, nevertheless, God will make these
things clear to us in time.
"Only let us live up to what we have already attained"
1. Christ Jesus has taken hold of us (v.12)
2. Our past has been dealt
with definitively (v.13)
3. We are called heavenward in him (vv13-14)
4. If we are mature we will keep that goal before us at all times (v15)
We might think differently on secondary things, declares Paul, but on
these things we must be clear, certain and determined. It is so easy to
lose sight of these essentials and perhaps this week we need to remind
ourselves daily of them and their part in our lives. Be encouraged and
press on.