Philippians 3:10-14 … “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this 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 heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” vss. 13-14
There are some who believe that life in this world is a kind of qualifying test for the new life that has been promised to us in Christ Jesus. If we live well, we will be rewarded in the life to come. It’s a logical assessment, one that is fully in accord with the basic principles of our culture, i.e. hard work brings success. And it seems to agree with what Paul wrote to the Philippians. Of course that’s not likely what Paul means–it just doesn’t fit with his heavy emphasis on grace! And if that is what he meant, how could we ever know that we’ve done enough? No, it’s much more likely that Paul is talking about the challenges of life in this world. The road ahead is cloaked with mystery–and none have yet arrived at our journey’s end. So, forgetting what lies behind, we push on toward the goal–and it is there we receive the prize of new life in Christ. The prize isn’t contingent on how we’ve lived–it isn’t a reward! It’s a gift and it’s ours by grace, and there’s nothing in all creation that can separate us from that love that is ours in Christ Jesus.
Thought for the Day: Why do some prefer for there to be winners and losers in the game of life?
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