Guest Post
by John Doyle
“…this one thing I do, forget the things of the past and move on to the things of the future. I press on towards the prize of the High calling of God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:13b-14)
I am sure that there were times in the Apostle Paul’s life when the past would flow into his mind and he would wonder how could he have done such a thing or been involved in the persecution of the early Christians. When these things came to his mind I am sure he would reflect on this verse of scripture and also be reminded of that precious verse he wrote in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that He Who began a good work in me, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
We all have things in the past that we wish would go away but they don’t and sometimes the Devil reminds us of them to try and keep us from a closer walk with the Lord.
So how do we forget the things of the Past? The easiest and most important thing to do is to choose not to remember them!
As Paul grew in his faith and began to be a great ambassador for Christ those things of the past faded away as he “moved on to the things of the future” v13. His future, and ours, are all in the hands of the Lord when we walk in His ways by faith.
The Apostle Paul knew from Gods Word, just as we do, that he would face “trials and temptations” but he choose to “PRESS ON” towards the PRIZE. What would be his prize? As we study the life of Paul in the Word of God we have to come to the conclusion that his Prize, apart from eternity with his Lord and Saviour was the “Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
So what is this “High Calling”? When we give our lives to Christ we also receive a High calling to follow Him all the days of our lives, facing the trials and knowing through it all we have an eternal destiny with our higher calling to Eternity.
Pressing on is a real challenge to us all in these days of the Lockdown and all that is going on in the world around us. Pressing on means literally “to continue moving forward faithfully and consistently” by faith in Christ alone.
So let’s put the things of the past behind us, let’s focus on the future and let’s together in Christ PRESS ON to that prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
(I’m pressing on the upward way by Johnson Oatman, Jr.)
Have a wonderful blessed day. In the Love of the Lord Jesus, John and Barbara.