A GOAL WORTH LIVING FOR-- Philippians 3:12-16
Proposition: The goal of Christlikeness is truly a goal worth living and dying for that pleases God and brings glory to the Name of Jesus.
Objective: My purpose is to challenge people to make Christlikeness as their goal to live for by surrendering their all to Christ.
INTRODUCTION:
Illus: Dog racing is a popular gambling sport in some states. Greyhound racing is different from horse racing in that there are no jockeys, so they have to use some other means of keeping the dogs running in the right direction. The greyhounds are trained to chase a mechanical rabbit that runs on a little track. The remote-control rabbit goes just fast enough to stay ahead of the dogs. A few years ago at a racetrack in Florida, a funny thing happened. The dogs were all crouched in their cages, waiting for the start of the race. The starting gun sounded. The cage doors dropped open and the dogs took off after the mechanical rabbit. As the rabbit rounded the first turn, however, an electrical short caused it to explode and catch on fire. In seconds, all that was left of the rabbit was some black stuff hanging on a bit of wire. The dogs were so confused they didn’t know what to do. Most stopped running. Some of them just lay down on the track with their tongues hanging out. A couple of them went on around the track at top speed, but without the rabbit to chase they ran into a wall and broke several ribs. Several of the greyhounds just started howling at the crowd. Not one dog finished the race. People are a lot like greyhounds. We’re all chasing something. What would happen to you if your goal, your reason for running the race, suddenly caught fire? It is an important question for each of us to face.
It seems that the Judaizers, the Jewish teachers who, were plaguing the Philippian church about how to achieve spiritual perfection. All that they had to do was to be circumcised and keep the Law. When you reach a certain level of knowledge, you achieve perfection. Paul has a strong word for these that he called “dogs.” Paul quickly states, “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward to Jesus. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.” Paul pursued Christ-likeness with the enthusiasm and persistence of a runner in the Greek games. Here we meet Paul "the athlete" with his spiritual vigor, pressing toward the finish line in the Christian race. He is like a runner, pressing toward the prize. The Olympic runners in ancient Greece had to be citizens of the nation they represented. They were free men, not slaves. As Paul saw it, the Christian is the athlete of Christ.
I. THE GRASP (v. 12) “that I may lay hold”— Paul’s salvation experience had taken place about 30 years before he wrote to the Philippians. He had won many spiritual battles in that time. He had grown much in those years, but he candidly confessed he had not obtained all this, nor was he yet made perfect. Paul has a glorious object in view, and he made most strenuous exertions to obtain it.
1. Dissatisfaction “Not that I have already attained or am already perfected”— He knows that he has not obtained all that Christ has for him. The great prize still requires effort. The prize is at the end of the race. He never claimed to have received such a state of perfection; nor does he intimate any where that such a state is ever reached on earth. In these verses Paul admits that he has not yet become mature in his faith, he is not yet perfect. His maturity is marked by a realization of his immaturity. Jesus has a purpose for his life. Thus he presses on to realize that purpose. If not, Satan says, "What’s the use?" He knew that he had not reached his goal of spiritual and moral maturity. His conversion was a starting place, not a stopping place.
2. Determination “I press on that I may lay hold”— The prize would demand a lifetime of continued effort on his part. He presses on to make it his own. He was positionally perfect in Christ while being conditionally perfected in both character and conduct. In his position, Paul was striving to know Christ better. He is pressing on for he knows that one must push forward in order to achieve God’s best for him. He presses on with the hope that he shall lay hold upon the prize. The idea in the word “apprehend” is that of taking hold of, or of seizing suddenly and with eagerness; and, since there is no doubt of its being used in an allusion to the Grecian foot-races, it is not improbable that there is a reference to the laying hold of the pole or post which marked the goal, by the racer who had outstripped the other competitors, and who, by that act, might claim the victory and the reward.
3. Desire “that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me”-- We are reminded that the Lord takes the initiative. "Christ Jesus has made me His own!" He remembers when the Lord persuaded him with urgency. It is a healthy practice to remind ourselves of the occasion when the Lord made us His own.
Illus: A lot of people have died climbing the Alps, falling off of precipices. At the foot of one of the many mountains that has been attempted a number of times is a little grave, it’s the grave of a man who tried to climb to the pinnacle and fell off a precipice to his death. The tombstone there is very simple. It gives his name and then it says, "He died climbing." That really should be the epitaph of the tomb of every Christian, "He died climbing."
II. THE GAIN (v. 13) “reaching forward to those things which are ahead”—“Gain means “to increase, to get, to reach, to make progress.” He spoke these words, “that I may gain Christ.” The knowledge that he will not attain perfection does not deter Paul from moving in that direction. Perfection means complete maturity. Paul knew he had not arrived.
1. Decision “I do not count myself to have apprehended” -- Paul was saying, "I do not think I have grasped all there is to grasp. I have not arrived yet." If Paul made a statement like that, wherever do we stand?" He did not feel that he had arrived nor did he dare rest on his laurels. He was assessing his situation realistically in the light of cold facts: the work of world evangelism was barely begun.
2. Devotion “One thing I do”— ("I concentrate on this"). Paul
has a singleness of purpose. No athlete succeeds by doing everything. He succeeds by specializing and concentration and letting nothing distract him. He knows that it is a matter of values and priorities. Many Christians are ineffective because they are involved in everything. Paul was absorbed with ’one thing." He was truly singleminded.
Illus: Paul said, "This one thing I do." D.L. Moody, almost as busy a
man as Paul was in his work for Christ, used to say, "It is better to say, ’This one thing I do, ‘than to say, ’These forty things I dabble with.’"
3. Disregard “forgetting those things that are behind”—
Looking back is sure to end in going back (Luk_9:62): So Lot’s wife (Luk_17:32). If in stemming a current we cease pulling the oar against it, we are carried back. God’s word to us is as it was to Israel, "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward" (Exo_14:15). The Bible is our landmark to show us whether we are progressing or retrograding. The Christian is always humbled by the contrast between what he is and what he desires to be. The eye reaches before and draws on the hand, the hand reaches before and draws on the foot.
3. Direction “reaching forward to those things which are
ahead”-- Metaphor of a runner leaning forward as he runs. This is a runner stretching every muscle to reach what is in front of him, the prize. Focused concentration, nothing with the past, just looking at the goal, moving as fast as possible. The past was the past. Thank God for it, but it was the past. The task was quite unfinished--indeed, barely begun. Paul decided there was only one thing to do: begin again as though nothing at all had been accomplished. His new plan was put the past resolutely behind him and set his sights on new targets ahead.
Illus: Years ago a young African-American child was growing up in Cleveland, in a home which he later described as "materially poor but spiritually rich." One day a famous athlete, Charlie Paddock, came to his school to speak to the students. At the time Paddock was considered "the fastest human being alive." He told the children, "Listen! What do you want to be? You name it and then believe that God will help you be it." That little boy decided that he too wanted to be the fastest human being on earth. The boy went to his track coach and told him of his new dream. His coach told him, "It’s great to have a dream, but to attain your dream you must build a ladder to it. Here is the ladder to your dreams. The first rung is determination! And the second rung is dedication! The third rung is discipline! And the fourth rung is attitude!" The result of all that motivation is that he went on to win four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He won the 100 meter dash and broke the Olympic and world records for the 200 meter. His broad jump record lasted for twenty-four years. His name? Jesse Owens.
III. THE GOAL (v. 14) “I press toward the goal”— The Greeks used the term "press" to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey. The word is used of a runner going hard for the tape. His eyes are on nothing but the goal. He is going flat out to the finish. A man does not become a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win it. The same zeal that Paul employed when he persecuted the church (3:6), he displayed in serving Christ. There are two extremes to avoid here: one is "I must do it all" and second "God must do it all." The first describes the activist and the second the quietest, but both are heading for failure. What quarterback would say to his team: "Ok, men, just let go and let the coach do it all?" Neither would a quarterback say, "Listen to me and forget what the coach says." Both extremes are wrong. Continuing the metaphor, Paul likens his Christian life to pressing onward to the goal so as to win the prize. In applying the figure, the goal and the prize are virtually identical, though viewed perhaps from different aspects. Paul’s goal was the complete knowledge of Christ, both in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings (v. 10) in being Christ-like. When the goal was reached, this prize would be fully his.
1. A pursuit “I press toward the goal”— process, The straining here is a word used of the sprinter who thrusts his body toward the finish line, whose one goal is to get to the end. The word here, "straining toward," takes the basic word to stretch a muscle and uses a double preposition epek meaning to stretch and stretch further. This is a runner stretching every muscle to reach what is in front of him, the prize. Focused concentration, nothing with the past, just looking at the goal, moving as fast as possible.
2. A prize “for the prize”-- That prize was what motivated him to run to win (1 Cor. 9:24). Believers will not receive the prize (Christlikeness, with all its eternal benefits) until the upward (lit. “above,” denoting both the source of the call and to where it leads) call of God in Christ Jesus ushers them into God’s glorious presence in heaven. Never does the runner forget the prize (I Cor. 9:24, 25; II Tim. 4:8; Heb. 12:2). At the end of the race the successful runner was summoned from the floor of the stadium to the judge’s seat to receive the prize. This prize was a wreath of leaves. At Athens after the time of Solon the Olympic victor also received the sum of 500 drachmai. Moreover, he was allowed to eat at public expense, and was given a front-row seat at the theater.
3. The process “of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”-- So, Paul continues for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul is thinking in terms of the prize of the victor’s wreath, characteristic of the Grecian games. Paul is set on the crown of righteousness in 2 Tim. 4:7-8 which reminds that he is heavenly-minded. Remember that only one athlete may receive a prize, all Christians may receive a reward. This call to heaven was such that Paul lived for the day when the heavenward call would come, like a victory in a race. Rather than slack off, as some do, the thought of it motivated him to further purity & service. The joy of the process kept him going, but he realized that the ultimate joy was the completion of God’s work in his life. The important thing is to reach the goal He has established for us.
IV. THE GUIDANCE (vvs. 15-16) “Have this mind…God will
reveal this to you”-- Now let’s be clear on one thing: we don’t run for salvation. Salvation is not the prize. Either we have Christ or we don’t have Him. We either trust Him or we don’t trust Him. The only way we can have salvation is through faith in Christ. It is a gift. A gift is different from a prize. Yet, we need guidance in our Christian walk.
1. The achievement (v. 15) “As many as are mature, have this mind…God will reveal even this unto you”-- Paul: "Anyone who has come to be mature in the faith and knows what Christianity is must recognize the discipline and the effort and the agony of the Christian life." A runner must obey the rules. He is disqualified if he infringed the rules. He does not lose his citizenship though he was disgraced by it. He loses the privilege to participate and win the prize. There is a graphic picture of the straining muscles, clear focus and complete dedication of the runner in his race to the prize. Both mental and physical discipline were necessary.
2. The appeal (v. 16) “Let us walk by the same rule, let us
be of the same mind”-- One mark of spiritual maturity is a desire to go on with Christ. Paul’s appeal here was to maturing believers who shared his ambitions. He trusted God to make things clear to those who disagreed with him. No doubt the greatest need among God’s people is to live up to what they already have in Christ. Most live far below their exalted position in Christ. Paul’s plea to the Philippians was that they live up to what they had already attained, namely a righteous position in Christ.
Illus: There is a story of an Indian chief who wished to choose his successor. He sent his three sons to scale a distant mountain. They were to return and report what they had seen from its highest peak. After many days, one son returned from his trip, "What did you see?" the chief asked. His answer was, "I saw the vast rolling plains below." In another few days, another son returned very confi-dent and expectant, "I saw still other mountains in the far distance." Then the third son came back exhausted with a look of great gladness, "Father," he cried, "I saw the sea, the shining sea!" "Oh, my son," the old chief joyfully exclaimed, "you have indeed climbed the highest and seen the farthest! You shall be chief in my stead." He had pressed on when others went back.
CONCLUSION: In closing, let us remember to:
1. Be single-minded. We need a proper focus “This one thing I do.”
2. Be absent-minded. We need a proper forgetfulness “Forgetting those things that are behind.
3. Be heavenly-minded. We need a proper faith in “reaching forward to those things that are ahead.”
4. Be faithful-minded—Have the mind-set of being faithful “Well
done, thou good and faithful servant.” Did you do your best for Me?
Illus: The story of Bill Broadhurst describes how all of us feel at times in this race. In July 1981, Bill Broadhurst entered the Omaha, Nebraska, Pepsi 10k, a race of 6.2 miles. Broadhurst is slowed by a brain aneurysm he suffered 10 years earlier, which left him partially paralyzed on the left side. He made it his goal to finish the 10k despite this obstacle. He was determined to run because Bill Rogers, his hero and a world-famous distance runner, was in the race that day. Rogers, great runner that he is, placed first in a time of 29 minutes and 37 seconds. It would take Bill Broadhurst much longer. One hour in, his partially paralyzed left side started to feel like dead weight. After two hours, the cars were back in the streets, and getting through intersections became difficult. At two hours and twenty minutes the pain was so intense and throbbing, he didn’t think he could go on. Then he saw the end. But as soon as he saw it, his heart sank: the banner was gone and everybody had left. Still, having come this far, he decided to push through to the end. As he approached the finish line, he perceived a small gathering of people off to the side. Then they moved out to greet him, and he saw Bill Rogers at the front crowd. They had been waiting for him. As Broadhurst crossed the finish line, Rogers opened his arms, and hugged him. Rogers took the gold medal from around his own neck, and put it around the neck of the last runner to cross the line. "You’re the winner, man," he said. "You take the gold." What a beautiful picture of our life with Christ. Jesus, the first runner of this race, has not forgotten us, struggling runners that we are. No, he has taken hold of us, he is making us fit for the race, and he is cheering us on toward the goal, and he’s waiting for us to give us the prize that he earned. And so, let us not forget Him Let us fix our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith, as we live our lives in an unhindered pursuit of his love and grace.
Prepared by: Gerald R. Steffy
6206 N. Hamilton Rd., Peoria, IL 61614
E-Mail: grsteffy@yahoo.com to receive
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