SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1060

“Upward Call”

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

In August of 1954 the two fastest men who had broken the 4 minute mile, Roger Bannister and John Landy, went head to head in a race considered to be ‘The race of the century’ in Vancouver, Canada. Landy was in the lead on the last lap when he turned his head to see how far behind Bannister was. Doing so broke his stride and Roger Bannister passed him to win the race. Landy was later quoted as saying, ‘I would have won…if I hadn’t taken my eyes off the goal’.

Our reference Scripture from Philippians 3 is rich with explicit exhortation as to how we are to respond to our heavenly invitation – our upward call. Let’s examine this Scripture more closely.

…I do not consider that I have made it my own…: Paul is not talking about salvation or his eternal position in Christ here. He is talking about his sanctification – his goal of being Christ like in every facet of his life. Paul realized that he, like the rest of us, fall short of the mark that is Jesus Christ. …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (Romans 3:23,24; 1 Corinthians 10:12)

…forgetting what lies behind…: We need to learn from our past but not dwell or wallow in it. The enemy of our soul will try to entice us to return to past sins, tempting us with thoughts of sinful pleasure. If that does not work he will seek to destroy our joy in the present with thoughts of unworthiness because of our past sins. I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (Isaiah 43:25; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

…and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal…: Have you ever dropped your car keys into that bottomless pit between the console and the driver’s seat? If so, you understand what it means to strain forward to reach them in an earnest pursuit: pressing on toward the goal. This is the imagery Paul is conveying in his epistle.

We have a heavenly invitation and like Paul we should live our lives in earnest pursuit reaching for the goal of living holy, mature Christian lives this side of eternity. You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  (Leviticus 19:2; Matthew 5:48)

Paul is not striving to achieve righteousness through works. He is earnestly seeking an undivided heart for God and an increasingly closer personal relationship with Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment…(Ephesians 2:8-9; Isaiah 64:6)

May your heavenly invitation – your upward call kindle an earnest desire to grow in your personal relationship with Jesus. May you have a Happy and Holy New Year.