Paul's Progressive Pilgrimage For 2022

12.31.21 Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s Progressive Pilgrimage for 2022

Dear Friends in Christ,

If I remember correctly, my aunt sets a goal for every ten years of her life. She might make it her goal to get a degree or to learn an instrument or a language. It’s kind of inspirational to see her do what she does. People like that make us take a look at ourselves. We say, “I wish I had that kind of drive.” And there are times in our lives where we want to set new goals and turn over a new leaf, get started on the right foot. New Year’s is a typical time for this.

It’s good to have goals and purpose in life. As Agent Smith said to Neo in the Matrix Reloaded, “Without purpose we would not exist. It is purpose that created us, purpose that connects us, purpose that pulls us, that guides us, that drives us; it is purpose that defines us, purpose that binds us.” That seems pretty true to life. That’s why I honestly think that if or when I decide to retire or I can’t work anymore it’s going to kill me if I don’t have a good plan for something to DO.

Dr. Jordan Peterson is a somewhat famous or infamous psychologist from Canada who gets a lot of airtime nowadays for better or for worse. He talked about some of the common weaknesses that create problems for people in this life, and it echoes what I’m talking about -

Being aimless

Sacrificing meaning for expediency (In other words - taking the easy route instead of doing the difficult thing that matches with your goals)

Not thinking through what you’re doing tomorrow

When you don’t have purpose it just doesn’t work well. It’s not how we’re built as humans.

The Apostle Paul definitely didn’t wander through life aimlessly. He was DRIVEN. Paul says we should learn from him and try to mimic him. Just after this text Paul says -

15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

What is Paul's pattern of living? One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Thinking about our goals for 2022, it’s a good text for us to use as we head into the new year.

The word in the Greek for “pursue” or “strain” is diwkw. One of my dictionaries says, “to follow with haste, and presumably with intensity of effort, in order to catch up with, for friendly or hostile purpose—‘to run after, to chase after, to pursue.’ (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1, p. 201). So Paul was in hot pursuit of the goal, to make it to heaven and be with Jesus.

If I were to ask you a list of what you planned for in 2022, how many of you would have had that as your number one goal? Your only goal? All other steps revolve around THAT one?

It’s interesting how Paul describes this, what started him on his journey, if we read it slowly and think about it. I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. It’s a physical picture, someone TAKING HOLD of something. I want to get my hands around it. Tackle it. Get a firm grip on it. Don’t let go of it. It’s kind of a neat picture when you think of what Jesus did with Paul, on the way to Damascus. He thought he was doing God a favor by hunting down the Christians. Jesus confronted him on the way. Shook him to his core. Grabbed hold of his soul, and turned Paul around, 180 degree turn! He grabbed Paul with grace, mercy and forgiveness, wrapping him with the cross of Christ. From that point on, Paul had a new goal. He wanted to know Christ. He wanted to spread Christ. He wanted to die with Christ. He went from hunting Christians to seeking Christ with zeal. Paul wouldn’t quit until he reached the goal.