LIVING IN TIME (New Year’s)
SCRIPTURE: READ Philippians 3:7-14
* Philippians 3:13 - 14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(v. 14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
INTRODUCTION
“There is an allusion here undoubtedly to the Grecian races. One running to secure the prize would not stop to look behind him to see how much ground he had run over, or who of his competitors had fallen or lingered in the way. He would keep his eye steadily on the prize, and strain every nerve that he might obtain it. If his attention was diverted for a moment from that, it would hinder his flight, and might be the means of his losing the crown.” Albert Barnes
What is tonight all about? It’s about the beginning of a New Year. It’s all about new beginnings, new opportunities. It’s all about time.
I. PAST
A. Forgetting (Remember to forget.)
1. Past Accomplishments (This is really what Paul was referring to.)
a. When they interfere with looking forward.
Phil 3:8 “for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
“NOTHING so renders our real excellences vain and puffs them away, as to
be remembering the good deeds we have done; for this produces two evils, to both renders us remiss [negligent, thoughtless, careless], and raises
us to haughtiness [pride, arrogance].” St. John Chrysostom
b. The “good ole days” are in the past. Enjoy them, but do not enshrine them.
2. Past Failures
Some people think one way to avoid failure is to do nothing. But then again, isn’t failure to try failure?
3. Past Sins that are under the blood.
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Matthew 6:10-12 “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(v. 11) Give us this day our daily bread. (v. 12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Phil. 3:9 “not having mine own righteousness,”
“It may be, and is, profitable for a Christian to look over the past mercies of God to his soul, in order to awaken emotions of gratitude in the heart, and to think of his shortcomings and errors, to produce penitence and humility. But none of these things should be allowed for one moment to divert the mind from the purpose to win the incorruptible crown. And it may be remarked in general, that a Christian will make more rapid advances in piety by looking forward than by looking backward.” Albert Barnes
4. For the most part, don’t look back. Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”
B. Forgiving
“Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving
another.” --Jean Paul Richter
1. Yourself
2. Others
II. PRESENT
“We are a little too much disposed to glorify the past and prophesy concerning the future, forgetful of the fact that the only golden age about which we need really concern ourselves is at our doors.” -Elmo.
A. Reaching (3:13)
The Greek word, to reach forth, signifies to stretch out the neck; a metaphor from racers, who strain every limb, and reach forward to lay hold on the prize.
-- with hand and foot, like a runner in a race, and the body bent forward. 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 [BENGEL].
B. Pressing (3:14)
III. FUTURE
A. Differing Views
1. Optimistic
There is an old story about a happy little boy who went out into the field. He had on his baseball cap & was carrying a baseball & bat. And on his face there was a look of tremendous confidence. Cocking his bat, he tossed the ball into the air, saying, "I’m the greatest batter in the world!" Then he swung & missed. "Strike one," he said. He picked up the ball, examined it, & then threw it into the air again. As he swung, he repeated,
"I’m the greatest batter in the world." Once again he missed. "Strike two," he said. This time, he stopped to examine his bat to make sure there wasn’t a hole in it. Then he picked up the ball, adjusted his cap, & tossed the ball into the air for the 3rd time. He repeated again, "I’m the greatest batter in the world," & swung with all his might - & missed for the 3rd straight time. "Wow" he cried, "What a pitcher. I’m the greatest pitcher in the world! I just struck out the greatest batter in the world!”
2. Pessimistic --Would say, “I struck out again!!! I knew I would!”
3. Realistic --Would say, “I tried my best. I just wasn’t able to connect this time.”
B. Toward the Mark. (3:14) -- The end. The finish line. The intended goal.
1. The High Calling
a. Called out.
(1) To be separate.
II Cor. 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
(2) To be witnesses.
b. Called up.
(1) To the better things.
- A better hope. Heb. 7:19
-A better Testament. Heb. 7:22
-A better Covenant. Heb. 8:6
-Better promises. Heb. 8:6
(2) To a Better Place.
-A Better Country. Heb. 11:16 “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
The true goal of the Christian life is heaven; nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.
-A Better Resurrection. Heb. 11:35
2. Perfection (3:15) -- Maturity in the faith.
a. Not as old age babes.
Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that
one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”
b. Gifts for perfecting
Ephesians 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
C. For the Prize. (3:14)
“A Christian will accomplish nothing who has not a single great aim and purpose of soul. That purpose should be to secure the prize, and to renounce everything that would be in the way to its attainment. Let us then so live that we may be able to say, that there is one great object which we always have in view, and that we mean to avoid everything which would interfere with that.” Albert Barnes
CONCLUSION
A. Where are you living in time? Past? Present? Future?
B. What are you doing with your time?
If We Had but a Day.
We should waste no moments in weak regret.
If the day were but one;
If what we remember and what we forget
Went out with the sun;
We should be from our clamorous selves set free,
To work or to pray,
To be what the Father would have us be,
If we had but a day.
Mrs. M. L. Dickinson.
Gary Freeman tells about a girl who went to college & she just hated it. But she told herself, "If I can ever get out of college & get married & have children, I know I’ll finally be able to enjoy life." So she stuck with it. She went to classes every day & finally graduated from college. Then she got married & had children, & discovered that children are a lot of work. So she told herself, "If I can just get these kids raised, then I’ll be able to relax & really enjoy life."
But about the time the kids were entering high school her husband said, "Guess what? We don’t have enough money to send our kids to college. I guess you’re going to have to get a job." Well, she didn’t want to, but she knew that he was right & they needed the money, so she went to work. And she hated it. But she told herself, "If I can just get these kids out of college, & get all of the bills paid, then I can quit work & really enjoy life."
Finally, the last child graduated from college, & all the bills were paid. So she walked into her employer’s office & said, "I quit." He said, "Oh, you don’t want to quit now. If you stay with us just another 8 years you’ll have a pension for the rest of your life."
She thought, "Well, I don’t want to work another 8 years, but there’s all that money there, & I just really can’t turn down the opportunity." So she worked for another 8 years. Finally, she & her husband retired at the same time. They sold their home & bought a little retirement cottage. Then they sat down on the swing on their front porch & looked at the family picture album & dreamed about the good old days. “New Year’s - Now is the Hour” by Melvin Newland
I came across some interesting statistics a few years ago. Someone went to the trouble to research what people do with their time, & came up with these results:
If we live to be 70, most of us will have spent 3 solid years, 24 hours a day, acquiring an education - grade school, high school & college. We’ll have spent 6 years eating, 24 hours a day, - some more, some less, obviously. We’ll have spent 14 years, day & night, working. We’ll have spent 5 years riding in automobiles or airplanes.
We’ll have spent 4 years talking with each other - again some more & some less. We’ll have spent 1 year sick or recovering from sickness. And get this, we’ll have spent 24 years of our life sleeping!
We’ll have spent 3 years reading books, magazines & newspapers. And 10 years amusing ourselves - watching TV, going to the movies, fishing, etc. That totals up to 70 years - & that is what the researchers say most of us will have done with our lives on the average.
“Facing the New Year” by Melvin Newland
