"Pressing Toward The Mark"

Christmas is finally over! It is a wonderful time of year to most, but, like going away on a pleasant vacation, it always seems to feel good to get back to "normal." As we meet on this last Lord's Day of 2004, it is appropriate for us to reflect on the year and to look forward to our life in Christ in 2005. As we consider past and present, let us be of the mind of Paul as revealed in Philippians 3:12-14, where he encourages us to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul's Pursuit of the Mark

Paul was a great apostle, especially when we consider his past and the drastic changes he had to make to be the Christian that he was. In Philippians 3:12-14, the apostle gives us the formula whereby we can attain the purpose God has for us, both individually and collectively.

First, we must follow after Christ. Paul said, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus"(Phil. 3:12). "Not as though"guarded Paul's readers against any misunderstanding that he was so high-minded as to think that he had "arrived"(Phil. 3:12). To the contrary, Paul recognized that he had not yet attained. This may be an allusion to the Grecian Games—like the runner of the race did not attain the crown until the race was won, so Paul had not attained because the race was still on (cf. 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). "Either were already perfect" was Paul's recognition that he was not sinless. Although Paul had made great progress toward Christ-likeness, the goal was still in front of him, not behind him. Conversion is the beginning of the race, not the end. Like Paul, when we are baptized, we "rise to walk in newness of life"(Rom. 6:3-4). We are called (2 Thes. 2:14); we must "run with patience"(Heb. 12:1); and we must finish the race (Mt. 10:22). As we follow Christ, we must continually strive to obtain the mark!

Second, we must forget that which is behind. "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before"(Phil. 3:13). Paul reiterated the fact that he had not yet attained the prize. To make the race successful, Paul had to forget the past. This does not mean that he had no memory of the past (Phil. 3:4-8)—it would take brain damage to erase that—but it means that he did not dwell on the past (2 Tim. 1:12-16). "Those things which are behind"may refer to Paul's pre-Christian life, his previous Christian life, or to all of it, but whatever the case, he did not look back so as to be hindered from "pressing toward the mark"! We must also forget those things that are behind us. As a general rule, those who run in a race do not look back. Rather, they keep their eyes fixed on the prize. Looking back will only hinder their stride for the finish line. We must not let anything hinder us from attaining the prize!

Third, we must press toward the mark. "I press toward the mark [goal, NKJ] for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"(Phil. 3:14). Paul made this goal his primary motivation and the means by which he could overcome all obstacles. Jesus Christ was both the goal and the prize for which Paul sought (cf. Phil. 3:10-11). This prize is available to all who answer the "high calling of God in Christ Jesus" through the gospel (2 Thes. 2:14 cf. 2 Tim. 4:7-8). If we are to attain that goal, we must run the race (1 Cor. 9:24-25), and overcome the temptations that can thwart our progress (Jas. 1:12).

Our Pursuit of the Mark

Have we grown spiritually as individual Christians over the past year? Our personal spiritual growth is measured by our growth in Bible knowledge (cf. 2 Pet. 3:18). Have we applied ourselves to learn more about God"s word? The preacher, although there is room for improvement, has done his best to make the Bible classes and sermons Biblically relevant, interesting, and informative. Have we done our best to attend the Bible classes and attentively listen to and apply to our lives the word of God? Our personal spiritual growth is also measured by our growth in faith. Since our faith can never outrun our knowledge of the Bible (Rom. 10:17), this growth is directly related to our growth in Bible knowledge. Can one who only sporadically attends Bible classes truly grow in faith? Finally, our personal spiritual growth is measured by our spiritual maturity (cf. Eph. 4:14). Are we more spiritually mature now than this time last year? Do we personally have more patience? Do we love the truth more? The fact that our spiritual maturity is a direct reflection of our faith, and our faith is a direct reflection of our Bible knowledge emphasizes the importance of Bible study (cf. Heb. 10:24-25).

Have we grown as a congregation over the past year? Numerically, we seem to be about the same, but what about our spirituality? What about our desire to please God and to cling to His word? What about our love for each other and our neighbors? A survey of the seven churches in Asia Minor reveals much about the Lord"s desire for congregations. The Lord knows our works (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). He approves of congregations that "canst not bear them which are evil"(Rev. 2:2), whose members are "faithful unto death"(Rev. 2:10), whose members have not "denied the faith"(Rev. 2:13), and take advantage of the opportunities before them (Rev. 3:8). He expects congrega-tions to repent if they have gone astray (Rev. 2:5, 16, 21; 3:3, 19). God is concerned with our growth? Are we?

May the Lord help us to strengthen and expand the borders of His kingdom in 2005, not by dwelling on the past, but by "pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

 Brian Kenyon