Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13b-14)
Paul liked sports. At least, he often used sports to teach us about Jesus. Like these verses: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Life is like a race—to heaven!
Whether you like sports or not, this is important for us to understand. Life is like a race. How often don’t we spend our lives looking backward, thinking about what might have been? How often don’t we get sidetracked and let ourselves get worked up about things we know aren’t very important? Like a runner running a race with her eyes on the finish line, God encourages you and me to keep our eyes fixed on the prize that’s waiting for us: Heaven with Jesus.
But here’s where the sports analogy falls short: You winning the race doesn’t actually depend on you. Jesus already won the race when he lived and died and rose for us. Jesus already won the prize for us.
Paul explained how a few verses earlier in Philippians: “Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9). We all need righteousness. We need to be proved right and considered good. How? By nature we always go back to ourselves: “I’m a good person.” “I try my best.” But that’s not how it works. We don’t have a righteousness of our own that comes from following the law. “But that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Righteousness is God’s gift to us by faith in Jesus. God’s grace doesn’t depend on us at all.
Doesn’t that take the pressure off of us? It’s hard to be in the middle of a race. You’re tired. Worn out. It’s tempting to give up. But Jesus calls you to lift up your eyes and see what’s waiting for you: Heaven! So let’s press on. Don’t give up! The race is almost over.
Dear Lord Jesus, life so often feels like a race. We feel tired and weak and wonder how we’ll ever make it through. Help us to see the victory you already won for us, and focus us on the heaven that’s waiting for us. Amen.
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