Running Towards the Goal

The Apostle Paul is recognized by those who read his writings as a man who is undoubtedly very close to Jesus Christ – he closely follows the example of Christ.

Yet, he uses himself here as an example of one who has not yet reached the goal or the end of the race.

He had endured more suffering and had labored harder than most of those around him.

But he knew that he had no reason or excuse for resting on his laurels.

In fact, he was in Rome, in prison, when he wrote this letter to the church in Philippi.

You see, Paul realized and clearly knew – his race was not finished even though he was in chains in prison for doing the work he was called to do.

He continued to look ahead to the prize of the “crown of righteousness” which he knew lay ahead.

He was willing to forget all earthly honors and desires to gain the eternal prize.

As we live our lives daily, none of us are in prison – but we all, if we have been obedient to God’s plan of salvation, are laboring to gain the eternal prize.

Therefore, we have a powerful reason to continue pressing forward toward that prize.

It is easy sometimes to become very satisfied with ourselves, thinking we have it made, and that we need to do nothing else. Just sit back and wait for the Lord Jesus Christ to return and take me home.

However, like Paul, we must not be satisfied, resting content with what we have accomplished.

Any progress we have made in our race toward the goal of Christ is minimal compared to the ground yet to be covered.

The Christian life is not a life of looking back – it is one of looking ahead, with disciplined running.

If we are running the race toward Christ today and expecting to win, we will forget what is behind and reach out for the things that lie ahead.

We cannot rest on our laurels – the things we may have accomplished up to now.

These achievements are no reason for us to relax our efforts.

Indy 500 – limited time in the pits. Sometimes we spend too much time in the pits.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us:

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

To move forward in our walk with Jesus Christ, we must discipline ourselves to "KEEP ON KEEPING ON" – as we discussed last week.

One entanglement that often binds us is our tendency to cling to past failures or life's disappointments.

Very often, the disappointments or failures we experience in life serve as wake-up calls, alerting us to the need for a change in direction or attitude in our lives.

The mercies we have received in the past should inspire us to avoid the mistakes we have made.

Our past sins – and the forgiveness we have received upon our repentance – should humble us – to know that we have a Savior who loves us enough to forgive us and still love us – and still wants us to spend eternity with Him.

I believe that one thing that hinders many people from experiencing the blessings of a life in Christ is that they dwell in the past – not firmly believing that Jesus Christ died for their sin – and that He lives within them today.

Dwelling in the past must be avoided to move forward into the future.

We must count on the power of our God to help us win – to go on to a fuller life in Jesus Christ.

While we live here on this earth – in our fleshly bodies – we are not yet conquerors.

It is too easy to dwell on the past, which must be avoided if we are going to move forward in Christ.

It is a momentous day when someone achieves extraordinary success – whether in their employment or any other area of life. But those successes are temporary. Next week, or next year, another person will receive that success, and we must move on.

When we dwell on our past failures – or our past victories – we will easily become depressed thinking we have failed --- or we will easily become puffed up – with the attitude of “look at what I have accomplished – that is the BIG “I” attitude.

That reminds me of my favorite Bible verse – Philippians 4:13:

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

That verse also tells me that without the help of Jesus Christ, “I can do nothing!”

We must believe in the power of God to help us win – to go on to a better, fuller life in Christ. That requires self-discipline for us to continue moving forward in our walk with Christ.

Too often, we cling to our past failures or disappointments.

The mercies and achievements that have been ours should inspire us.

Our past sins should humble us.

However, dwelling on the past must be avoided if we are to continue growing and maturing in Christ.

When we dwell on the past – whether it is successes or failures – we deny the power of God to help us conquer and overcome the roadblocks in our journey.

Rather than dwell in the past, we are called to depend upon the power of God to help us win, and to go on to better things.

When we allow ourselves to daydream – dwelling on the past – we are not conquerors.

So very often – as people dwell on the past – the result is depression. And depression can destroy a person – both physically and mentally – and more destructively – spiritually.

An example of a person dwelling on the past is found in the Old Testament account of Lot’s wife. As they fled the destruction, she looked back.

Her heart was still in Sodom, and so she shared in the destruction – and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Looking ahead is what is important – moving forward with the Gospel – growing daily as we heed His teachings for our daily lives.

Luke 9:57-62 – is a statement of Jesus’ definition of discipleship.

They were all traveling along the road. Someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you anywhere you go.” He answered, “The foxes have holes to live in. The birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place where he can rest his head.” Jesus said to another man, “Follow me!” But the man said, “Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about God’s kingdom.” Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said, “Anyone who begins to plow a field but looks back is not prepared for God’s kingdom.”

Jesus speaks here about those who let other things keep them from running the race – and finishing the race.

His teaching is that – nothing should come between us and our obedience to Him and to our God.

Our first – and most important duty – is to Him.

We must reach out for the things which lie ahead. That requires that we press on toward the goal.

This “pressing on” requires that we pursue it earnestly, with determination to finish and win the race.

As we reach out for the things that lie ahead, we must never let our efforts slacken.

Relaxing our efforts means weakening our effort to win – essentially, slacking off in our pursuit of victory.

Every one of us here today has a purpose in being one of God’s children.

All of our lives, we must press on to reach the purpose to which Christi has called us.

I read an account of Kublai Khan – who was a 13^th century conqueror of China. He challenged 100 Christians to explain and defend their faith in Christ, and also to live that faith in the presence of his people – who, of course, were not Christians.

Only two Christians were bold enough to respond to Khan’s request. They went, but became afraid and turned back. Fear of human power weakened their faith and testimony for Christ.

What really happened there is this: Christianity was tried and found wanting. Serving Christ was found to be too difficult and was left untired.

The fact is – the Gospel – the standards set by Jesus Christ – are unacceptable to the masses of unbelievers. But these standards are what God accepts.

As Christians, we reach out for the things before us. We see the goal. The eye sees before the body moves. We see with our eyes what Jesus has done for us. Then we move – we take the steps to begin to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

There is a great Christian song that brings us these words:

“Make the pathway glow. Then at last when on high He sees us; our journey done; we will rest where the steps of Jesus end – at His throne!“ That is our Goal!

Then at last, when on high He sees us, our journey done; We will rest when the steps of Jesus end at His throne.

That is our goal.

The goal of our lives, as Christians, is Jesus Christ and our inheritance in Him.

Each of us has a purpose in being one of God’s children.

All our lives, we must press on to reach the purpose to which Christ has called us.

So, what is the goal of the Christian?

It is this – to be like Jesus Christ.

We must seek purity in our lives – like Him.

We must continually devote ourselves to His will for our lives.

But it takes more than a desire to be like Him.

It takes a life of pressing on. It takes focus and concentration to achieve victory in a race.

The Christian life can be likened to firing a rifle. If the rifle is not aimed, the attempt to hit the target will be unsuccessful.

We have to look ahead to the mark that we intend to hit. We cannot expect to hit it blindly.

Paul tells Timothy – 1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Paul understood the extent to which the love of possessions had to be relinquished to inherit eternal life.

But he also knew that there is one thing worth giving up everything for – that is, focusing his whole life on doing the will of Christ – so that he could win the race.

Are you, today, stopped along the side of the track? Feeling defeated in the middle of your race?

Sometimes we need to ask ourselves the question: “Do I really want to win the prize? Is it worth the effort?”

“And, if I do, am I pressing on toward the prize of being called to be with Jesus Christ?”

It takes a day-by-day, successful running of the race that is set before us, unburdened by the weight of the world.

That requires that we lay aside this day and run toward Jesus.