Do you press on or are you still living in the past? There were situations in our past that painted hurt, disappointments, and regrets. These were too heavy and even paralyzes us to continue living that way we ought to. These have changed the way we perceive circumstances, make decisions, and mastering our attitudes. Sometimes we feel that we are carrying the weight of the world. Nothing is seems right. Mind you, even christians are not immune to these. I’ve seen christian leaders who just can’t go on with their ministries because of hurt and disappointments. The Good News is, there is a way out. Here’s the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-15 giving us the motivation.
In Philippians 3: 12-15 we read:
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 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. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will revealeven this to you.
We are on a Race
We are to attain or obtain a perfect knowledge of Christ. The day we decided to trust and follow Jesus, we are at the starting point of our race. As participants to this race, our focus is to finish the race and get hold of the prize that is set before us. The good thing is, every participant of the race has a reward at the end of the race. No losers. No competition. Just stay on the race. The rules of race are laid down in God’s word.
We “press on” means it’s a continous and consistent process. God has laid hold His plans for each of us. He determined our steps. It is now for us to press on, stay on the race, and get hold of what He has in store for us. God will reveal it to us one by one along the way.
Forgeting Those Things Which Are Behind
Let not our past disappointments, hurt, or pain dictates our future. To Press on is leaving those burdens or excess baggage away. These will not help us in the race at all. Carrying these might strained us, paralyze us, or dishabilitate us and we are unable to finish the race.
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
To stay in the race, we must Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12). Christian life is not easy. We have a lot of battles. Temptations, power, greed, lust, among others. We must therefore equip ourselves with the tools we need to deal with various crossroads along the course of our race. Jesus had laid down the foundation, set the examples, and provided the roadmaps how to finish our race.
Philippians 3: 12-15