I Know Where I Am Going!
"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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."[ (Philippians 3:13-14)
"Between an airplane and every other form of locomotion and transportation there is one great contrast. The horse and wagon, the automobile, the bicycle, the locomotive, the speedboat, and the great battleship—all can come to a standstill without danger, and they can all reverse their engines, or their power, and go back.
But there is no reverse about the engine of an airplane. It cannot back up. It dare not stand still. If it loses its momentum and forward-drives, then it crashes. The only safety for the airplane is in its forward and upward motion. The only safe direction for the Christian to take is forward and upward. If he stops, or if he begins to slip and go backward, that moment he is in danger.”—C. E. Macartney (Ministry 127)
Our associate pastor Sunday, delivered an excellent message. It was on our text, Philippians 3:13-14.
He shared with us three words that the apostle Paul gave us, in pursuing our Christian journey. And this really should apply to our entering this new year.
1. FOCUS - "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do,"
Whatever the apostle Paul accomplished in his old life, before he became a Christian, he considered rubbish, in comparison to knowing and serving Jesus Christ. This became his one and only focus of life. As he stated in Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." It should be the same with us. As Christians, there should be no other thing in this world, that we should place as the main focus of our lives, than the Lord Jesus Christ. And how blessed we will be when we do.
2. FORGET -"forgetting those things which are behind"
The apostle Paul had been born with a wonderful heritage. He had acquired a good, solid education, and held a very high position in his life career. He did not think it a negative experience to go after Christianity, and to try to do away with this movement. After his conversion, he was not proud of his sinful attitude, and actions. He wanted to completely forget it. Someone has said: "It may be good at times to visit the past, but it's never a place we should live." The past is dead and gone. There is a line they have used on the TV show " Blue Bloods" "It's what you do next that counts." We are to let the past go, and allow the Lord Jesus to forgive us, and restore us. 1 John 1:9, and then focus on our next
word!
3. FUTURE - "reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Do we know where we are going in our lives? What is the path we are pursuing in this life? According to Paul, we are to reach forward to the things God wants us to be, and to do. We are to be Kingdom builders. We are to press forward, like a runner, running a race. We are to press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I remember what some of the athletes would say after a significant victory. They would say that "they were heading to Disneyland."
In Jesus, we share the victory over sin, and eternal death. When asked what we will do in the future? We can say, "we are heading to heaven, and we're going to take as many as we can, with us!" I ask you again: Do you know where you are going in this life? If you are in Christ Jesus, you can know! GP
