Keep Running...
The Apostle Paul’s letters to the early church are full of advice to Christians of the time. In Philippians 3, Paul tells the Gentiles (non-Jewish believers) to not let the legalism espoused by some Jewish believers in the nascent church be the foundation of their faith. Instead, they are to stand on their faith in Jesus as the way to make themselves right with God.
Paul goes on to tell his readers that he hasn’t achieved any level of perfection. Instead, he says he is focusing on forgetting his past as a Pharisee who persecuted followers of Christ, and doing his utmost best to emulate Christ’s example:
'No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. '
Philippians 3:12-14
A faith journey can feel like an ultramarathon run. There’s the fresh joy of finding Christ at the start of the run, followed by endless uphill struggles against sin, temptation, and doubt. Occasionally you’re refreshed by a cool breeze or a welcome cup of water, making up time as you speed effortlessly downhill — akin to those times when God is close by, providing His assistance and calming your fears of failure.
Paul reminds us that there is a heavenly prize at the end of the race, and despite the length and difficulty of life’s marathon, there’s always that goal to keep us looking forward and upward. We too can accept God’s grace, stop suffering the pain of past transgressions, and continue running forward one stride at a time.
Photo by Brian Erickson on Unsplash