Pressing On, Part Three Living a Life Worth Being Poured Out to God

Philippians 3:14-16 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

The Apostle Paul had undertaken his missionary journeys across the known lands and had set the world upside down by the time he penned his letter to the church at Philippi. He had been taken up to the third heaven and seen paradise. He had heard things that no man was to ever repeat. Yet as he sat in prison in Rome, in the middle of his letter to the Philippians, he reveals to us the humility with which he lived his life and a direction for us as Christians to follow. Sitting in prison, even after accomplishing so much, he still was pressing on.

In the previous two devotionals in this series we explored how God has called each of us and continues to call us to higher levels, if we are willing. We also explored how we must forget our past and strain toward our future in Christ. In this conclusion we see Paul provide us with deeper insight into pressing on. Within these verses are several more truths for us to consider and incorporate into our daily lives.

First of all, we need to be goal driven for Christ. Paul expresses that it is fact the goal that he is pressing on toward. The overall goal is the same for all believers and that is to become more Christ like each day. Those who are born again are already in possession of eternal life and the bible reminds us:

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3

We have to realize that this goal needs to permeate all facets of our lives. It is easy to be on fire on Sundays at church but your Christianity should be obvious to all. You should be pressing on to be more Christ like in the office, in your business dealings, with your family, and even in your car when you get cut off! Paul is reminding us that these are more than just words and teachings. They need to be goals in our lives. Why? Because a goal is something you work toward; something you press on toward. It serves as a reminder of what you are striving for.

Secondly, we should keep in mind that there is a prize involved. There is a reward. Paul exhorts us also in his first letter to the church at Corinth:

Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1Corinthians 9-24-27(NLT)

We also must run with purpose in every step beloved. The world gives prizes that rust and fade away in the erosion of time but God's prizes are eternal! Paul also reflected as he faced death about this prize:

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 2Timothy 4: 6-8 (NLT)

Oh that we might feel poured out as an offering to God when our time on earth is drawing to an end! Are we fighting the good fight or are we shadowboxing, flailing at the shadows in our lives and the world? Have we remained faithful and will we finish the race? The crown of righteousness is available for all beloved! We need to press on to become Christ like so that we might receive it as well.

The third truth in these verses is that this is a matter of spiritual maturity. Paul clearly states that those that are mature should take this view of things. There is an alarming trend in modern Christendom where we have become very adept at bringing people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ only to watch them crawl as baby Christians, never maturing in Christ. Peter discusses new Christians:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1Peter 2: 2-3

We have already tasted that the Lord is good and now we need to grow up in our salvation and not be content with just spiritual milk. We need to move on to spiritual meat and eventually God will grow us to the point that we will be fed, by feeding others. That is the plan of discipleship. Pressing on is a sure sign of spiritual maturity in a believer. Paul makes it very clear and says that even if you disagree on some point, God will make it clear to you.

The final truth in the pressing on exhortation is that we have a tremendous responsibility to Christ in this world. I can almost see Paul pleading this final line, "Only let us live up to what we have already attained." You have attained the assurance of salvation beloved. You are saved and redeemed. You know that you know that you know. You are living the eternal life here on earth! You have been reconciled to God almighty and have His spirit living inside of you! Paul's plea here is that we live up to this. With this great gift comes great responsibility. There is a lost and dying world that does not know Jesus Christ and does not have their tomorrow promised to them. They are watching what you do and looking for any reason to believe or any reason to doubt. What they see and the decision they reach is up to us. You might be the only witness they ever get to Christ. You might be their only chance. That is why we are not to allow our walk to grow cold or to even live lukewarm. Jesus Himself while addressing the Church at Laodicea should give us all pause:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

We have attained so much through Christ. Let our lives be neither cold nor warm but rather hot; on fire for God! Let us grow out of spiritual milk in search of the maturity that Paul speaks of. Let us keep our eyes on the prize through the setting of goals in Christ; to become more and more Christ like every day. To fight the good fight and not shadow box with the world. Pressing on. It requires us to realize that we are called by God for a purpose. It requires us to remember that there are ever increasing levels to our call from God. In order to successfully press on we have to give our past to Christ so that we might strain toward the future He has for us. It requires something from us beloved. Set the goal, reach for the prize and press on in Christ Jesus!

Anthony Wade July 30, 2008