Let Loose!

Spent just a few moments yesterday with my one and only grandchild, two-month-old Isla Rose.  I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, even when her daddy was changing her diaper!  I stood over her as she responded to my baby jabber with wide eyes and a dimpled smile.  She is still not to the stage where she can purposefully use her hands, but somehow her hand found its way to my hand and she wrapped it tight around my index finger.  When the diaper was changed she still had a tight grip on my finger and this grandmother wasn’t about to pry her loose!  Eventually, I gave her up to my son and off they went to the next grandparent’s house. As I reflect on this precious moment, I am reminded of something the Apostle Paul once said:

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:13-14

I love how he gives us a one-step process for reaching our goals.  This one step does however, requires two intentional actions on our part:  forget what’s in the past and reach forward to what is in your future.  Unfortunately I am more apt to follow baby Isla’s lead and move with no purpose.  I often unintentionally find myself holding on to things that are not moving me forward, but are keeping me from my God-given call – taking hold of the thing for which Christ took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12) I often allow the fear of failure, past mistakes, or just plain procrastination to keep me from moving forward in my relationship with Christ.  These would be considered “the sin that so easily entangle us” that keep us from finishing strong in the race of life.  (Hebrews 12:1)  But Paul says to forget about the good and the bad. Dwelling on what you have done well in the past may cause you to become comfortable with where you are.  On the other hand focusing your attention only on the bad things in your past may cause you to live in shame and condemnation.  When you are lured back to the past, that is the old enemy singing over you.  (Micah 7:8) Instead Paul encourages us to forget about it.  I don’t think he meant literally to forget your memories of past failures and accomplishments, but to not keep your focus on those things – bringing them back up in your mind over and over again.  Sometimes a quick and gentle reminder of the past can spur us on and motivate us to grow up in Christ and even go deeper still.   

Once you get your mind off the past, Paul says to reach forward to the future.  The Greek word for reaching  forward, or straining forward, is a picture word illustrating a runner who is stretched forward at the starting line, ready to run his race.  Literally it means to “stretch oneself forward.”  Moving forward is always a stretch!  God stretches us by calling us to do God-sized tasks.  We stretch forward toward God, who is the One who accomplishes all His purposes in and through us!  (Psalm 138:8) When the gun goes off the runner is focused on winning the race and the reward that awaits him when he crosses the finish line.  Paul also encourages us to run to win.  (1 Corinthians 9:24) The good news is that if you know Christ and have entered into His eternally full life the reward is a home in heaven spent worshiping Him forever – a very sweet reward!  

This week at our church there was a revival for the precious senior citizens of our congregation.  I had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy the worship segment of one of the revival services.  That day the hymns were all focused on heaven.  I took a moment to drink it all in and observed the beautiful white crowned men and women as they worshiped with passion and over-the-top joy.  Their faces lit up as they sang about the mansion in heaven, the streets of God, and seeing Jesus’ face for the first time.  They gained energy with each song they sang.  They were focused on the prize, fueled to finish the race! 

Time spent with a baby and with a room full of senior saints gave me fresh inspiration and encouragement to stay the course, to live a life worthy of Christ, and to remain focused on the prize of eternity spent with the Father.  Now I say with Paul:

I am off and running and there is no turning back.  

Philippians 3:14 (MSG)

Let loose and Press on!

Nancy