“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press ontoward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Paul’s letter to the Philippian church is a reminder that we are all in a growth process which is preparing us for heaven. No one has arrived or taken hold of perfect spiritual maturity yet, but we are all pressing toward the same goal, learning as we grow in faith and holiness, day by day through difficult challenges. The goal and prize that we are pursing is to spend eternity with Jesus in heaven.
Paul advises us to forget what lies behind in order to press on. Certain memories need to be let go of, in order to move forward. Holding on to hurtful words or offenses done to us by others, doesn’t help us toward the goal. A speaker once said that to forgive doesn’t make the other person right, it makes you free. It frees our memory from storing all the offenses done to us, which replay over and over in our mind.
It’s why ‘pressing on’ is not a one time act, but a daily action of our choice.
We also have memories of our own regrets, failures and mistakes, that replay in our mind to hinder us. If something cannot be undone, we ask forgiveness, and then we forgive ourselves. If Peter could do it, and Paul advises us to do it, so can we.
God speaks to us through the words of Paul, to press on, move ahead, learn, grow and overcome, even through the most challenging experiences of our life. The original Greek version of this verse is saying, “Keep your eye on the prize, who is Christ Jesus.” The Greek word skopos means to scope, as in a telescope or a microscope, to focus only on what is essential to see.
One of the most intense examples of pressing on, with telescope eyes on the prize, is the true story of the Christian singer and songwriter, Steven Curtis Chapman. He and his wife had six children but experienced a family tragedy in 2008, when their five year old daughter died, after her teenage brother accidentally ran her over, in the driveway of their home.
The little sister was so excited to greet her big brother, she took off running down the driveway, before her brother could see her. The family clung to each other and to the Lord, who helped them to cope and press on after such a tragedy. Their family grew closer in that difficult time and got the help needed for their teenage son to move on, one day at a time.
The Chapmans share their story in interviews through various Christian news outlets. Steven and his wife have no profound answers, except knowing personally that God’s grace helps us to press on. They keep their daughter’s memory in their hearts, knowing by faith, they will see her again. Their son is now a husband and father, with children of his own. The Chapman family remains united by a resilient faith in Jesus Christ.
Everyone encounters a time of despair, wondering where God is, but He is right there with us to help us press on and to keep our eyes on Jesus, our prize. The human spirit, by divine grace, can handle even the toughest things in life, through Jesus Christ, who strengthens us.
Lord, help us to keep our eyes on the prize, knowing by faith that nothing can compare with the glory to be revealed one day. Amen
