“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Paul gives valuable advice by telling us to keep moving “Heavenward.” There is something about lifting our focus upward to God, with hope and faith as we move forward. If we keep our goal focused on heaven, it alters our whole perspective in whatever we go through in our life. Moving heavenward is living in hope.
The longer we live, the better we will understand the words of Paul in this scripture. It takes a deliberate effort to keep our focus heavenward, since it doesn’t come naturally. Thinking too long about something that happened in the past, can lead to brooding, which brings us to an abrupt stop, in our heavenward journey. We need to keep moving, pressing on, toward the goals God has for us.
I was driving on the highway a few weeks ago and passed the exact spot where my son, Jon, crashed on his motorcycle in September of 2023. The State police told me that the site of his accident was the southbound lane of I-94, near Buckley road. While driving on that particular section of highway, I saw skid marks on the road, that could be from a motorcycle, but there’s no way to know for sure if it was from his accident.
The accident report showed there was no other vehicle involved, the weather was perfect, and Jon had no alcohol or drugs in his bloodstream according to his medical records. All my ruminating, while trying to solve the mystery, led to asking myself questions, about whether he was distracted, or cut off by another vehicle, or simply driving recklessly?
Jon may never regain his memory of what actually happened that day, and no one may ever know the actual cause. The accident certainly changed the quality of his life, but there is no benefit in obsessing on what lies behind. I realized it’s time to look ahead, and move heavenward.
Dwelling on a past event, whether it’s a trauma or an experience of being wronged by someone, can become a distraction from reaching the goals God has for us. If we look forward in hope, to what lies ahead, instead of what lies behind, we will live healthier lives, physically, mentally and spiritually. To move forward is to move heavenward.
Most versions of this scripture use the phrase, “upward calling”, but I like the version that uses the term “heavenward”. Whatever wording is used, the Bible contains far more scriptures that encourage us to set our minds on the things above, rather than earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)
The Lord is always doing a good work in each of us, and we have a lifetime to allow Him to bring that work to completion. He is also doing a good work in each of our loved ones’ lives, as well. Those tragic events and hardships that we or our loved ones suffer, are not caused by God, but He can certainly take all that happens, and still work it together for our good in the end.
He who has begun a good work in all of us, isn’t finished yet, and that includes Jon, even during the period of time that he is living in a Nursing Home. When God says “all things work together for our good…” He means all things. (Romans 8:28)
Instead of looking back at what has gone wrong, we need to remind ourselves that our good God has good things in store for us, which are yet to come. 2025 could be the year that our most fervent prayers are realized and come to fulfillment. So let’s move forward, as we exhort ourselves to keep looking ahead, trusting in a good God, who is working everything out for our good, as we keep moving Heavenward.
Lord, give us the spiritual stamina to press forward and to keep moving heavenward, because we trust in your goodness in all that is to come this year. Amen