Press On

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but i press on, that i may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:12-14

Have you ever wanted to quit? To give up? To just throw in the towel and call it quits? We all have. We all have been falsely accused of saying or doing things that wear on us and just want us to stop, to leave, to quit. I guess if anyone had a "right" to do that, it would be Paul. Five times he received the 39 lashes. Three times he was beaten with rods. Once he was stoned (with rocks) and left for dead, and three times he was shipwrecked. The man went through hell on earth, because of the gospel he preached. And he doesn't tell us these things arrogantly. He tells us these things as an encouragement.

Paul is telling us, that the most important thing is not that his body had gone through physical torment, but that pressing on toward the "upward call of God in Christ Jesus" is what is primary. I recently have been lied to and lied about, by people whom I thought were my friends, and that can hurt. But their pettiness and lying are not what is important. What is important is the call, for which I must press on.

As a pastor, I have found that people can do some pretty incredible things, both for and against the kingdom of God. And Paul here, is telling us, that even he has not attained perfection, that he still makes mistakes, still hasn't "arrived." What he does is press on, even through all of the "stuff" that he has had to go through. Why? Because of his focus on Christ Jesus our Lord. He is the reason we do what we do. He is the focus of our life. Sometimes I have forgotten that, and have gotten my eyes on people, instead of Jesus. And that is when I have started sinking, just as Peter did that day out on the water with Jesus.

But I repent of that, and continue to press on..."forgetting those things which are behind." You know, we as humans can dwell on the past to the point which we begin living there. That is not good. We need to forget the past. Focus only on what is ahead. God has called us to some marvelous things. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith."

Paul says, "I haven't arrived yet." Neither have you or me. None of us have. Sometimes we are held to a standard by people, who cannot keep the very standard to which they hold you. In the words of a friend from New York City, "Fuhgetaboutit!" Press on, my beloved brothers and sisters. Fix your eyes on Jesus, focus on Him, and let the rest of the dross and garbage fall away from your life. When those people who come to your church simply for the social aspect try to pull you in, press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Be encouraged! God really and truly loves you, and wants the best for your life. So reach forward to attain that. Forget what is behind. Don't keep bringing it up to rehash it. Leave it back there alongside the road. And press on. Amen? Amen.