GOING FOR THE GOLD

"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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14

I have to admit that I haven't watched much of the winter Olympics.  Personally, I prefer the summer games.  I have noticed some of the headlines coming from the games.  The American news media celebrates American victories and sympathizes with Americans who have a disappointing finish. 

The real goal of Olympic athletes is to bring home a gold medal.  It must be exhilarating to stand on the podium as your national anthem plays.

For the Christian, our main goal shouldn't be the earning of gold.  Instead, our primary objective is to go for a different type of gold.  We should be yearning to reach a city of gold and walk on gold.  That was the Apostle Paul's goal.

Notice some things that Paul did as he neared the finish line of life.

1.  PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

Despite the long list of Paul's accomplishments, he realized that he hadn't reached the pinnacle yet.  He wrote, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended."  Some may have considered him a hero.  Most considered him a fool or a failure.  None of their opinions mattered.  Paul was not going to let achievements or public opinion distract him from the thing that mattered most:  crossing the finish line.  As he pondered his situation, Paul realized that the most important part of any race is the finish.  The cheers or jeers of others were not going to hinder him. 

2.  PUT THE PAST IN THE PAST

Also, Paul put his past in the past.  He wrote, "... forgetting those things which are behind."  Paul had a lot of sin in his past.  If we were honest, all of us would admit that the same is true of us.  Paul received forgiveness when he met Jesus.  Now, he pressed forward.  He was not going to let the past hinder him any more.  Most people are letting the past destroy them.  Some will take petty grievances and hurt feelings to their graves.  Others refuse to forgive and move on with their lives.  Still others refuse to forgive themselves.  The key is to experience God's forgiveness.  For Paul, his past was put in the past.  Any person who clings to the past, does so at their own peril.  When an athlete looks back, he gives up any chance at winning.  The same is true for you and me.  Bring your past to Jesus and let Him put it in the past.

3.  REACH FOR THE FINISH LINE

Paul was reaching for the gold.  He wrote, "... reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Paul was reaching for "the prize."  Some saints have said that they would be content just to barely get inside of heaven.  Really?  Paul didn't feel that way.  He wanted King Jesus to reward him.  Paul wanted the best of heaven.  He wanted his Lord to be pleased with him & reward him.  Do you?

I am not an athlete.  I'll never compete in the Olympic games.  You probably won't either.  But all of us can reach for the gold.  We can sell out to Jesus and live fully for Him glory.  We can reach for the finish line with excitement and anticipation. 

Believe it or not, the finish line is just ahead.  So reach for the gold!

FINISHING STRONG

"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."

 - Philippians 3:11-12

The 2018 winter Olympic games began recently.  Athletes from numerous countries have descended on South Korea with the goal of bringing home a gold medal.  While short races are typically more enjoyable to watch, the endurance races take a unique set of skills and talents.  In an endurance race, it doesn't matter if you're in first place early in the race.  It is vital to be in the lead at the end of the race.

The Christian life is an endurance event.  The time gap between conversion and death may be several decades.  Most believers treasure the memory of their conversion.  Those early days were filled with joy and excitement.  Over time, however, the rugged terrain of life tends to bleed the joy from our lives.  We must keep close to Jesus to keep that joy alive. 

The important thing is the finish line.  There will be a finish to this life.  That is what motivated Paul during his imprisonment.  He started the Christian life powerfully.  He continued aggressively.  Now, he wanted to finish strong.

Paul's goal was to attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  More importantly, he wanted the victorious resurrection that awaits believers.  Notice what he wrote, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."  Paul was saying that he wanted to get a hold of the winning prize just as Christ had gotten a hold of him.

He wanted to finish strong and win the prize.  Paul was not content with a participatory certificate.  He wanted the grand prize.  He wanted God's best.  He desired a full reward.

What about you?  Are you just content to be going to heaven, or do you wish to obtain a full reward?  I fear that most Christians are simply waiting on heaven rather than aggressively trying to win the prize. 

The finish line is just ahead for all of us.  It is much closer than we realize.  We need to be pressing toward the finish line with the eager desire to receive a full reward.

We need to finish strong.

KNOWING HIM

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." - Philippians 3:10

It is one thing to know about Jesus, it is another thing to know Him personally.  Most Americans confuse the two.  Most people know about Jesus, but they have never had a real, personal, life-changing encounter with Him.  Sure, they have heard about Him in Sunday School or in a revival meeting.  But few have actually come to Him on His terms, surrendering their lives completely to Him in repentance and faith. 

When a person meets Jesus Christ, a change takes place within.  It is a radical, yet glorious change.  Knowing Jesus personally is great, but the pursuit of His fellowship should be an ongoing process.  That was the case for the Apostle Paul.  In Philippians chapter 3, Paul writes his spiritual autobiography.  Even though he had a personal encounter with the Lord on the Damascus Road, Paul realized that he needed to know the Lord much better.

Paul's devotional life could be summarized in those opening words, "That I may know him..."  Sadly, most believers do not have a regular devotional time.  It is no surprise that their spiritual progress has slowed significantly.  On the other hand, Paul had a passion to know the Lord more and more.  He was not satisfied with just an encounter at conversion.  He wanted to know Christ intimately.  He wanted to have a vibrant walk with the Lord.  Do you?

Notice three things about Paul's passion:

1.  THE POWER

First of all, Paul wanted to know Christ, "... and the power of his resurrection."  Resurrection power is truly remarkable.  Anyone who has the power to raise the dead is extremely powerful, don't you agree?  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead with just His spoken word.  Yet when it came to Jesus' resurrection, it was accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Here on earth, there are many who will do anything to occupy the White House.  They are hungry for power.  They are just playing games.  They don't recognize true power because they have never met the all-powerful God of the Universe.  Yet Paul wanted to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.  Paul sought to know the person of Christ, experience the presence of Christ and live by the power of Christ.

2.  THE PAIN 

Secondly, Paul wanted to know, "the fellowship of his sufferings..."  Fellowship indicates a close communion with someone.  Paul wanted to know Christ on the level of His sufferings.  Christ did suffer.  He suffered in various ways during His life.  But I believe it was the suffering of Christ on Calvary that Paul had in mind.  Paul was called to suffer for Christ.  Most of us run from suffering.  Paul embraced it.  How can a man endure suffering?  The best way is to find inspiration and fellowship from someone who has gone through the same suffering.  Paul sought the fellowship of Christ in His suffering.  In life, we suffer physically because of sin's affect on our bodies.  Paul suffered differently.  He suffered bodily harm due to persecution.  He suffered because of his faith in Jesus.  His fellowship with Jesus was no mere pretense.  Paul wanted to know Jesus fully --- including the fellowship of His suffering.

3.  THE PROCESS

Finally, Paul sought the process of sanctification:  "being made conformable unto his death."  Paul had already mentioned his desire to know the fellowship of Christ's sufferings.  Now he wanted to emulate the Lord Jesus --- even to the extent of death.  Many claim that they want to be more like Jesus, but they aren't interested in His sufferings or His death.  You can't enjoy the power of His resurrection without the fellowship of His sufferings or the likeness to His death.  God's desire is to mold our lives to emulate Jesus.  Is that the process you seek?  It was for Paul.

Knowing Christ intimately is more than an outward commitment at a church service.  It begins with a life-changing salvation experience, but should continue with a life-long pursuit of holiness and communion with Jesus.  Few know Him on this level.

Don't be content with anything less than an intimate knowledge of Jesus.

REAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." - Philippians 3:9

You don't hear many sermons about righteousness these days.  You may hear sermons about family, money or prayer, but very few about righteousness.  Righteousness is the act by which God declares us right or just before Him.  While many emphasize fitness, family or finances, the most important topic to address is the subject of righteousness.

How can God be righteous and at the same time declare a sinful man to be righteous?  The answer to that question is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to earth.  Jesus was a righteous man.  He lived a righteous life.  On the cross, the righteous Son of God received the punishment that we deserved.  Because of the sacrificial death of Christ, His righteous has been imputed (or given) to those who believe. 

Prior to meeting Jesus Christ, Paul was not a righteous man.  He was a wicked, murderous man.  Yet when he met Jesus, Paul became a righteous man.  How did this happen?  Paul became righteous because the righteousness of Christ was placed to his account.  That is why Paul would write, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." 

Paul wrote, "And be found in him..."  The only way to become a righteous person is to be in Christ.  This relational position makes all the difference.  Notice that his position in Christ did not make Paul a perfect person.  Instead he wrote, "... not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law..."  Paul had no righteousness of his own.  Neither do I.  You don't either.  Instead, Paul wrote, "but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."  Through faith in Christ, the gift of righteousness was given to him.  Yet it was the righteousness of Christ that was given to him.

Now, having His righteousness, we have a new nature with new desires.  We have a desire for righteousness.  Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."  Notice that we don't seek our righteousness, but His.  Furthermore, Jesus promised, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  Also, James wrote, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

These days, pagans like to ridicule some church-attending neighbors as being "self-righteous hypocrites."  Certainly there are self-righteous hypocrites who attend church.  But the fact remains that there are no righteous people apart from personal faith in Jesus.

If you examine my own life, you'd know immediately that I am not perfect.  In fact, I'll be the first to admit that, apart from Jesus, there's nothing good in me.  Do I make mistakes?  Of course I do.  Do I sin?  Yes, but I'm always driven to my knees in repentance when I do.  I have no righteousness of my own.  Any time I feel proud or self-righteous, the Lord brings me down to the ground in humility.  He reminds me that I am nothing.  The old song rings true for me:

"My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness."

When you look at me, you may see my mistakes and failures.  However, when God looks at me, He sees the righteousness of His dear Son.  Not my righteousness, but His.  That's all that really matters.  He has declared me righteous, not because I've done anything to deserve it.  Instead, His righteousness was given to me through faith in His Son.

That is real righteousness.

THE VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." - Philippians 3:8

American Christians tend to overvalue earthly riches and vastly undervalue the blessing of knowing Christ.  It is ironic that while Americans emphasize profitability and wealth, we have been blind to the real value of eternal matters.  All the wealth of this world is temporary.  Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Donald Trump are only temporarily wealthy.  The most important thing is to be eternally rich.

From a worldly perspective, the Apostle Paul went from being a great success to being the worst of failures.  All of this happened when one thing happened in his life:  he met Jesus Christ.  Those who teach a "prosperity gospel," need to look again at Paul's life.  From a worldly point of view, Paul went from power to poverty because of his faith in Christ.  Yet Paul didn't see it that way.  While others viewed him as being a failure because of his conversion, Paul felt it was the greatest turnaround of his life.  He felt that he went from loss to gain; from spiritual bankruptcy to spiritual abundance; from the shadows to the light; from death to life.  On the road to Damascus, his eyes were blinded temporarily.  There in his blindness, he began to see everything clearly.  The restoration of his eyesight did not dim his newfound spiritual vision.  He now lived with an eternal perspective.

Notice how Paul evaluated his situation:  "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."  Paul counted ALL things but loss.  He may have lost all his earthly things, but he didn't consider them to be of any value compared to "... the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."  Paul felt that knowing Christ was of incalculable value compared to the junk of this world.  Do you feel the same way? 

Paul did not sugarcoat his worldly loss.  He continued, "... for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."  He had lost "all things."  That wouldn't be a proud statement to make a class reunion, would it?  Yet Paul concluded by stating that the things he lost he counted as dung compared to knowing Jesus.  Dung is a strong word to use in denouncing worldly prestige, power and profit, yet Paul emphatically used it.  Paul, writing from his own personal experience, said that the world and all it has to offer is nothing more than a trash heap, rubbish, and compost.  What a graphic way of putting it.  I don't know very many people who agree with Paul --- at least to this degree.  That is because most people do not know Jesus like Paul did.  Most only have a dose of American religion.  They have never been transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

While reading this, you may not be convinced that Paul was accurate in his assessment of this world.  I believe eternity will reveal how accurate he really was.  When Wall Street has long faded away, saints who have riches in glory will be enjoying themselves immensely.  

We need to view riches from an eternal perspective.  More importantly, we need to appreciate the value of knowing Jesus personally.  When money becomes ashes, Jesus will still be wonderful, glorious and loving.  He will still be the lily of the valley & the bright and morning star.  He will still be fair above all.  He will still be in control, sitting on the throne.  His grace and mercy will be admired and appreciated by those impacted by them --- and angels will stand in awe to behold it all.  Believers will be enraptured by His presence eternally.  We'll bask in His love forever.  We'll worship the One who sacrificed everything so we could enjoy heaven forever with Him. 

Paul was right --- there's nothing that compares to the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord!

LOSING IT ALL TO GAIN EVERYTHING

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." - Philippians 3:7

Sometimes we don't know how rich we are until the things that matter most are taken from us.  While most Americans struggle to pay their monthly bills, it is difficult to imagine that we are rich.  Yet compared to most of the world, most Americans are very wealthy. 

While most of us do not consider ourselves to be rich, if all our possessions were taken away overnight, we'd look back and realize that God had blessed us abundantly.  We had just taken it all for granted.

Saul of Tarsus was a man who had goals and aspirations.  He had excelled in all that really mattered to him.  He had risen to a place of prominence.  He was respected among his peers.  He was living his dream.  Then he met Jesus and everything changed.

It is not uncommon to hear certain TV evangelists tell their audience that if they follow Jesus, all their bills will be paid and they will be rich & healthy.  Of course, that is not what the Bible teaches.  When Saul of Tarsus met Jesus, he did not get rich.  In fact, he lost everything. 

When a person in a Muslim country becomes a Christian, he doesn't get rich.  Instead, his conversion may cost him his life.  In some areas of the world, Christian conversion leads to a loss of job (or business) and alienation from family and long-time friends.  There is a price to pay when you follow Jesus.

For Saul of Tarsus, he lost his position, his source of income, his prestige, his relationships --- in fact, he had nothing left, except Jesus.

When you have nothing left but Jesus, you will find that Jesus is enough.  For most us, we've not experienced this level of knowledge.  We may suffer minor forms of persecution or misunderstanding, but most of us here in America did not lose everything when we began to follow Jesus.

Saul of Tarsus would later be known as the Apostle Paul.  As Paul looked back at the price he paid for following Jesus, he mused, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."  In other words, the things that mattered so much to Paul before conversion were now considered loss.   

Paul learned a lesson that many have to learn today.  Religion is nothing but trash.  Compared to Jesus, empty religion is just junk.  Paul had been a zealous Pharisee, religious as a person could be.  His zeal was unsurpassed.  Yet when he met Jesus, he traded his religion for something ... better yet, Someone, much better.  It cost him everything.  In hindsight, Paul realized that when he lost it all, he really gained everything.

None of us know the future.  We don't know if the stock market will crash in the coming year.  We don't know if we'll have a paycheck by the end of 2018.  We don't know if our whole economy will go bankrupt in the coming months.  Certainly we hope that none of these scenarios will unfold.  However, we must soberly ask ourselves the question:  if I lost everything but Jesus, would Jesus be enough for me?  Paul knew the answer to that question when it came to his own life.  That scenario had become a reality for him.  He was a follower of Jesus and there was no turning back.  He knew Jesus was worth following.  He realized that to lose it all, and gain Jesus, had made him a winner.

It is not the amount of money in the bank that matters most.  Neither is it the number of "friends" that you have on Facebook.  In life, there are those silent moments when you have nothing and no one but Jesus.  When you face your greatest pain, you will only have Jesus to help you through it.  When you are heartbroken, only the Lord can comfort you.  When you face death, only the Lord will walk with you through that experience. 

Jesus is more valuable than all the wealth of the world.  Do you believe that?  For Paul, he lost everything when he met Jesus.  He knew had gained it all. 

Whether you have millions in the bank or you're so poor that you don't have a dime in your pocket, you are rich if Jesus dwells in your heart.  This world & all its riches will soon pass away, but Jesus will still be Lord. 

To lose the temporary riches of this world in order to possess the eternal wealth of knowing Christ is not really a loss at all.  It is gain of incalculable proportions. 

GROW UP!

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." - 1 Corinthians 13:11

When a new year arrives, many people make resolutions.  Most of these resolutions revolve around health and exercise.  While these resolutions are made with good intentions, they are usually not followed up with much diligence or discipline.

There is an issue that really should stir us at the beginning of a new year.  Are we better people now than we were one year ago?  If you are a Christian, perhaps you should ask yourself, am I living closer to the Lord than I did this time last year? 

The fact is that all of us are growing older, but few are actually getting more mature.  Maturity is a reflection of personal and spiritual growth.  Pastor James MacDonald once said, "You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime."

My job is not to measure your maturity level, but to carefully examine my own.  I suggest you examine your own growth.

I used to think that spiritual maturity was based upon how well I understood the Scriptures.  I do believe that a good understanding of the Bible is important; it is also possible to understand Bible doctrine and still be immature.

Maturity is manifest in your behavior.  Spiritual maturity isn't based upon how much of the Bible you've read, but how well you apply what you've read.  For instance, how you treat others, especially enemies, can be a good gauge of maturity.  Your response to trouble, trials, or temptations also shows a degree of your maturity.  The bottom line is that your maturity level is not marked by the opinions of others, or even your own opinion, but by the degree that the fruit of the Spirit is displayed through your life.  Your goal is not be the best person at church, work or the community.  The goal is to be more like Jesus.  Considering that standard, how well are you doing?  I must confess, I am not doing as well as I should.  I have a long ways to go.  2018 would be a wonderful time to make great strides in this area.

Have you ever met an adult and thought to yourself, he (or she) needs to grow up!  I have.  Looking at my own spiritual progress, perhaps I need to tell myself to grow up!

If you are like me, you are not satisfied with your spiritual maturity either.  If that is the case, let me challenge both of us to focus on three things in the year to come.

1.  FIGHT YOUR FLESH

First, we need to fight our flesh.  The flesh refers to the sin nature that resides within.  There is a constant battle that needs to be fought.  The flesh will stands in the way of our spiritual progress.  Looking back at 2017, I must confess that there were times I responded to adversity in the flesh rather than in the Spirit.  The worst foe I have is the man I see in the mirror each day.  It is a daily battle to fight my flesh.  Pride can be so strong.  It is easy to be selfish.  The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to fight the flesh.  Romans chapter 7 captures his fight.  He admitted that often he did things he didn't want to and, at other times, didn't do the things he should.  It was a constant battle.  For Paul, it was often a losing battle.  I can identify with that.  Yet Paul finally understood that you don't fight the flesh on your own.  You must fight the flesh in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The flesh is stronger than my willpower, but the flesh is not stronger than the Spirit.  I cannot grow in my faith while living in the flesh.

2.  FACE YOUR FEARS

Secondly, we need to face our fears.  The Bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear.  I must confess that there have been times I've lived more by fear than by faith.  Courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what is right in spite of fear.  In hindsight, I must ask myself, what more could I have gotten done in the past if I hadn't allowed fear to hold me back?  That is a question you should ask as well.  Christians often allow fear to keep them from doing the will of God.  Fear hinders believers from sharing their faith openly and frequently.  Fear often keeps Christians from practicing radical obedience to God.  Fear is a foe that arises any time spiritual opportunities come our way.  Here's the problem with fear.  Fear is actually unbelief.  We fear the future because we can't trust God to keep His promises.  That leads us to the third thing we need to do this year.

3.  FEED YOUR FAITH

The more you feed your faith, the more your fears will starve.  Feed your faith by reading, studying, memorizing and obeying God's Word.  Feed your faith by hearing God's Word proclaimed at church each week.  Feed your faith by spending time with those who have strong faith.  Feed your faith by reading powerful spiritual books and listening to Christ-centered music.  Take God at His Word & see what He will do. 

If God blesses me to see the end of 2018, I don't want to look back with regret, what about you?  Fight your flesh.  Face your fears.  Feed your faith. 

I think all of us have some growing up to do!