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Onwards & Upwards

Writer's picture: Paul CottingtonPaul Cottington

 

I press on…” Philippians 3:12&14


Main Readings: 2 Peter 1:1-11 & Philippians 3

Related Readings: Ephesians 1:17-23 & Psalm 63:1-3


The first 9 verses of Philippians 3 told us of Paul’s total change of mindset.  He’d been a very religious man.  But his religion - played out in his life - caused huge harm to the people of Christ.  But when he met Christ, the harm stopped, and heaven started.  He went from thinking to knowing – from thinking he had a rightness with God all of his own doing.  To knowing he had a rightness with God based on believing - faith in Christ.

 

All his previous religious rule keeping now counted for nothing.  All that counted was Christ.  All he needed for relationship with God was Christ.  And he had Christ. 

 

That’s all it took, there in verses 1-9.  Heaven secure.  So, job done?!  Surely?!  And we’d maybe expect verse 10 to now read something like this – ‘So, I stopped!  I slipped off my sandals, laid on my bed, and watched Coronation Street on repeat.  Until death… mercifully released me’!  But we don’t!

 

It’s quite the opposite.  This man who now knows Christ says, in effect, ‘I want to know Christ (more)…’   There’s no stopping him.  He wants his experience of Jesus to be fuller and deeper.  What’s his Christian life gunna be like now?  The clue is those 3 words found in verse 12.  And repeated in verse 14.  ‘I press on.’

 

Pressing on.  That’s what this next bit of the chapter is about.  It’s a lesson about one man’s new life in Christ.  But it’s a lesson for all our lives in Christ.  Paul said, ‘I press on.’  That’s what he did.  Can we? 

 

But this throws up questions.  Like, will it be easy?  Will I fail – cos usually I do.  Yes, I like the idea of this – ‘I press on’ in the Christian life.  But how’m I gunna do that?  I’ve got questions.  What I want is answers! 

 

Have you ever felt like that?  Maybe in an exam at school, or college, or in later life.  Facing tough questions.  But lacking the answers.  Cos all they hand out are the tough questions.  Never the answers.  God’s word is so different.  It does examine our lives.  With tough questions.  But it gives the answers too!  So, let’s look.

 

Verse 10 – ‘I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection…’  This is so good.  Right at the start.  The key to pressing on in the Christian life.  Without this it could not be done.  It’s so easy to think it’s all about us.  But it isn’t.  Paul doesn’t begin with, ‘I want to know more inner strength – more new life by the power of me!’  No.  Paul wants to know the power of him (Christ).

 

Cos, what does it mean, ‘the power of his resurrection’?  Well Ephesians 1 19-20, talks about ‘(God’s) incomparably great power for us who believe.’  God has power ready for our lives.  How great is that power?  It says, ‘that power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.’

 

So, Christ dead and buried.  His life destroyed by my sin and yours.  Sin and death have defeated him.  And then God’s power.  Then, sin and death defeated.  Christ rises from the dead.  Returns to heaven’s glory.  Is seated at God’s right hand.  What a turnaround! Power? - in the history of the universe – that’s the greatest display of God’s power!  Ever!  And yet that power is ‘his power for us who believe.’  And God’s word’s saying ‘you gotta believe it!’ 

 

Does life ever have you feeling dead and buried?  Do you sometimes think of your situation, ‘How am I gunna press on?  What’s gunna turn this around?’  Life’s tough questions.  But God’s answer is always, ‘that same power!’ 

 

And in this letter – Philippians – Paul has already encouraged believers with his confidence in God’s power at work.  Chapter 1, verse 6 – He’s ‘confident of this… he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’  Not sure if you can carry on?  Don’t worry – ‘he… will.’

 

In chapter 2, verses 12-13, Paul was encouraging believers to ‘continue to work’ at it.  Remember that?  We can work out again – life can work out again – as God works in again.  As Paul says, ‘(it’s) God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.’  That verse is no call to be passive – to not do anything.  We’re told ‘to act’.  Don’t forget that.  Press on.  But don’t forget.  It’ll happen cos God’s not passive either.  Ever!  He works in you.  He will carry it on to completion.

 

Then, in verse 10, Paul says something extraordinary.  He wants ‘to know… participation in (Christ’s) sufferings.’  It seems so odd.  What’s the one thing we wanna avoid?  Suffering.  Can we avoid it as believers?  That’s a question.  God’s answer?  ‘Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Timothy 3 12).

 

We can duck and dive.  But we can’t avoid it if we’re in Christ Jesus.  I find Paul’s attitude, so helpful.  Cos I know my attitude can sometimes be different.  My attitude reminds me of when I was a kid.  And was given some magnets.  We’ve been thinking about power.  Magnets have power.  Mine did.

 

Two magnets.  That’s what I got.  Both had poles.  Each end was different.  One end was like a positive pole.  And the other was negative.  What happened when I tried to join the two negative ends.  I couldn’t do it.  They just repelled each other.  But if one magnet was turned around?  Straight together.  Instantly joined.

 

I think my attitude towards suffering for Christ – so that’s being willing to experience persecution for being his – often finds me the wrong way round.  Suffering’s a negative experience.  And my negative mindset means that I’m repelled from being joined to suffering.  It’s like I’m in God’s hand, like that magnet was in mine.  When he moves me forward towards suffering, I’m moving left and right instead.  Cos, I don’t wanna go there. 

 

What can change me?  What changed Paul?  God’s power transformed him.  He’d gone from being a persecutor.  To being persecuted.  Paul now saw suffering as part and parcel of his new life in Christ.  He had a turned around mindset more aligned with God’s push.  So, when God moved Paul in the direction he wanted him to go.  Regardless of what that meant for Paul.  Paul pressed on.

 

Then verse 11.  This is a hard one to understand, I think.  It’d be easy to duck and dive, left or right round it, and carry on from verse 12!  But let’s not.  So Paul has said, ‘I want to know… participation in (Christ’s) sufferings, becoming like him in his death…’ and then he says, ‘so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.’  What’s he mean?

 

It seems to be highlighting Paul’s particular circumstances at that time.  He really was suffering for Christ.  A prisoner in Rome.  Awaiting trial.  For?  Preaching Christ.  Possible outcomes?  One was death.  There was a real possibility that Paul could be executed for his faith.  That would be the end of Paul’s mission for Christ.  But he’s not ducking and diving.  Cos, for Paul, death isn’t the end.

 

In verse 11, he uses the word ‘somehow’.  He doesn’t know whether his life will end – in that way - soon.  But it will end ‘somehow.’  And when it does that won’t be the end.  It’ll be the end of suffering.  But it will be the beginning of never-ending glory.  And ‘somehow’ Paul was gunna get that glory.  And so Paul pressed on.  That’s what he says in verse 14, ‘I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’

 

I recently had someone tell me about their plan to run the London Marathon.  That’s a bit like the Christian life.  It’s a journey – that goes through suffering and needs endurance.  Why did they want to do it?  Cos you get a t-shirt.  A t-shirt that says you’ve done it.  It may seem like a small thing - but it was enough to make them sign up.

 

The reward at the end of the Christian life is no small thing.  Heaven’s glorious prospect made Paul want to ‘press on.’  And in verse 15 he encourages us to ‘take such a view.’  By God’s grace - and by that same power - can we?

 

But that’s missing out verses 12 & 13.  They’re so good.  If ever there were verses to crush our pride.  These are they.  Paul says, ‘not that I have already obtained all of this, or have already arrived at my goal.’  And he says, ‘I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.’  Paul’s getting there on the Christian journey but he’s not there yet.

 

Other Bible translations use words like, ‘I don’t mean to say… I’ve already achieved perfection.’   Or, ‘I’m not saying that I have this together, that I have it made.’  It’s so good!  So often Christians are not so good.  They behave like they’ve made it!

 

But just think where Paul is at in his Christian life here.  His letters form a big chunk of our New Testament.  At this time, most of them’ve been written or are currently being written.  What Chris wants his church to know, Paul knows.  But he hasn’t got it all together.  He hasn’t got it made.  He’s still learning.  Still willing to be taught.  He’s grown and developed so much in the faith life.  But he’s not there yet. 

 

Are we still willing to press on to further grow and develop?  Then we’ll have to admit that we don’t know it all.  What’s the best way to become wise?  Be more kid!  Admit your lack of wisdom.  Delight in counsel.  Ask questions.  Get answers.  What’s the alternative? - cultivate the lie.  Pretend you already have it made?  Others may be impressed – and not question you.  But God’s word gives a different answer.

 

Paul pressed on.  In verse 13, he uses the word ‘straining’.  He was reaching to the extent of his easy reach.  And then some.  And surrounding this is one thing that’s oh so important.  Paul says, ‘one thing I do: forgetting what is behind…’

 

It’s a bit like driving a car.  They have rear-view mirrors.  Cos we need to know what’s behind us.  But if we drive looking only there… we’ll crash.  Paul’s been looking in his rear-view mirror in the first 9 verses.  Looking back at his past self-righteousness.  It’s good that he does.  And checks, every so often, to make sure it’s not creeping back - closer and closer to his new-life bumper sticker!  Cos it may.  But what he really wants to do is such an important principle of good driving.  And as important to the Christian journey.  Look ‘towards what’s (immediately) ahead.’  And press on.

 

I like to walk long distances.  I think that kind of endurance effort can also have similar principles to those that Paul mentions here for Christian living.  Cos, sometimes, when I’m on a long walk, I go wrong.  Some people call it ‘getting lost.’  I don’t!  My children used to call it ‘getting lost.’  I prefer, ‘taking a wrong turn’!  Also, sometimes I take the right path, but it’s closed or blocked, and I have to come back.

 

But this on a long journey can be a big issue.  I’m forced to retrace my steps.  Then I start focussing on where and why I went wrong.  Or what could and should’ve been.  I start thinking that if I hadn’t taken that dead-end, I’d be miles ahead of where I am now.  All that effort for nothing.  It can get overwhelming.  I’m slowed down in the present.  Cos my mind is in the past.  Paul’s advice – maybe for a long walk – definitely for the Christian journey - is ‘forget… what is behind… press on.’

 

Another issue on a long walk can be the thought of what lies much further ahead.  That hill.  When I’m more tired than I am now.  In my mind I can start worrying about how I’m gunna tackle that.  Is that gunna help?  No.

 

There’s only one thing that will keep me going apace.  Like Paul says, just ‘one thing’.  Holding on to past regret - slow me down.  Looking too far ahead - slow me down.  What ‘one thing’ will help, if I keep doing it.  Put one foot in front of the other foot.  That’s it.  If in the present, I can do that, on repeat, I’ll keep pressing on.  I want Paul’s principle to help me next time I’m on a walk.  But I want it more… to help me – and you – on the Christ-life journey we’re now always on.  One foot in front of the other.  Press on!

 

Paul admits.  This will be harder for some than others.  Verse 15 uses the word ‘mature.’  Paul’s suggesting that it’ll need a certain level of Christian maturity to always take this view.  It may need a certain amount of growing and developing in Christian stuff first.  Before we can really press on.  Surprise, surprise!  Isn’t that how life is?! 

 

How did we begin to walk when we were young?  Did we take our first step?  And then with a little ‘yippee’ carry on until we’d run the 400 metres?  No.  We took one small step.  And then head-butted the sofa!  But, all the same, I bet those watching were well-pleased with our progress.  I bet they rejoiced.  Like our one small step was a giant leap for humankind!  And so it went on.  Lots of small steps.  Lots of slipping and falling.  Long before we ever really pressed on.  And made great strides in anything.

 

So, it will often be in the Christian life too.  Are we prepared to rejoice when others make small steps?  And encourage them to press on to make a few more small steps?  That mayover time extend to something a bit bigger?

 

Also in verse 15, Paul’s admits to something else.  This may not be easy to get on and do.  And walk out well.  At times, we might be inclined to think different.  But what a promise is here.  This is so important to God that he’s prepared ‘to make (it) clear to you.’  Paul says, ‘God will.’

 

Make it clear.  I wear glasses.  For that reason.  I like things to appear clear.  But, over time, my vision changes.  My glasses are no longer quite right.  How do I know?  Cos things go fuzzy.  What do I do?  I go to Specsavers.  Why?  Cos, they promise to make it clear again.  It’s an easy decision.

 

But God makes that same promise to us about this Christ-life principle.  Struggling to accept that you need to ‘press on’ – again - in the Christian life?  Go to him.  Pray.  He ‘will make it clear to you.’  What a promise!  To ask him for this - It should be an easy decision.

 

Then verse 16 reminds us not to let slip of what we already have.  ‘Only live up to what we have already attained.’  While you’re trying to grasp this.  Don’t lose your grip on what you’ve already got.  And what about those days when you do?  Lose your grip?  Just go back to verse 12.  ‘I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.’

 

On those days.  Just admit it.  ‘I lost my grip.’  And then rejoice.  Christ hasn’t lost his.  And then press on.

 

Next time, I hope to press on.  And actually, finish this chapter.  And press on into chapter 4.  But we’ll finish today with just a glimpse of something from verse 21.  It has the same theme as verse 14.  The glorious theme of heaven’s glorious reward.  And reminds us of the power that is in our Lord Jesus Christ.  That power ‘will (then) transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.’

 

Remember what I said about that person.  Who was going to endure the London Marathon.  To press on.  For ‘the prize’ of a t-shirt.  It’ll look good for a while.  And then it’ll start to fade.  And get thin.  And lose its shape.  And be binned.

 

The Christian life is a call to endurance.  But it isn’t for a change of t-shirt!  It’s for total change.  ‘Our dying bodies… transformed into bodies that will never die (1 Corinthians 15 53 & 54 NLT).  Brothers and sisters.  ‘Take such a view.’  And brothers and sisters.  Press on.

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