Philippians 3:13-14

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Question: What instances in your life have you experienced this — to forget what is behind and press forward to those things ahead?

First of all I looked at what Paul included in what is behind and ahead.

Those things which are behind

Although Paul’s life was full of the best intentions, he didn’t have it easy nor comfortable, but his zeal for the Lord led him to do all the so-called “right” things.
He grew up in the university city of Tarsus, and received the best of theological training. That led him to reject the comfortable existence of the Saducees, who were the “establishment at prayer” at the time, and he chose instead to join with the serious and sincere group of the day, the Pharisees, who were zealous in following God’s word and commands as they understood them.

Following his confrontation with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he changed course, and ardently followed God’s direct guidance through the Holy Spirit, instead of the teaching of the established church. But he didn’t receive the comforting social encouragement that we enjoy in this group and church.
2 Corinthians 11:16-33 lists the hardships and suffering he endured: the whippings, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, persecution and rejection by various groups and people, and deprivation of comforts, food, and sleep. And his letters show he didn’t have the assurance of seeing his churches stay on track, he carried the burden of their wrong turnings and had to write to guide and correct them.

And 2 Timothy ch. 4 tells us that at the end of his life when suffering the harshness of prison, he was abandoned by friends, only Luke was with him.

Those things which are ahead

But 2 Tim 4:17 reveals the source of Paul’s assurance and strength; it states, “the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.” And in Phil 3:8-11 just prior to our reading, Paul lists the things which are ahead:

• the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus;
• to gain Christ and be found in Him;
• the righteousness which is from God by faith in Christ;
• to know Him and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, to be conformed to His death;
• to attain the resurrection from the dead in Christ.

Personal application

When I look back on my life, I don’t have the same zeal as Paul for doing “right”, or what God guides us to do, although it has been my wish. But I have learnt that doing so doesn’t necessarily receive social recognition.

In my early adult years, I could see wife was not coping well with our baby boy, so I started work early in order to leave and arrive home early, to share in parental and home duties. I could also see how difficult it was for a mother to do supermarket shopping with babies or young children, so I took that on of a Thursday evening, and continued with that until I retired. At one time I was stopped in the supermarket and thanked for what I was doing by a distant neighbour who had her children with her. I was told her husband was the opposite, a multi-millionaire in business, but who was unhelpful at home, and disrespectful of her in public. I was grateful for her recognition.

At a generous moment my wife shared what her church women’s social group had told her when she complained about my humble and boring style, they said she was lucky to have a good provider to rely upon. But that was only for a moment, and my quiet style and lack of outstanding financial success led to contempt and distance as the years went by.

Even in church circles – at a previous church, a new pastor introduced a lively presentation pace, and gradually replaced people from the congregation who had previously helped in worship, including me, with zippy presenters in his own style. When I eventually departed, he was curt and dismissive, as if I had stayed too long.

How to Forget What is Past

I have known people whose misdeeds of the past are like a worm inside them that causes never-ending pain. Their awareness of wrong-doing, although they refuse to admit it, is something they cannot forget, and it distorts their thinking and behaviour.

But through Jesus, we can take all of our sufferings and misunderstandings, and remorse for wrong-doing, and lay it all before Him.

When we look to Jesus, and the wonderful gifts Paul has listed, God can take our past and use it for His good purpose. He can take our present and correct us and guide us in the way He wants us to go, into a future where He will be with us through His Spirit while here on earth, including in the “fellowship of His sufferings”, and ultimately in His presence forever. All that lies ahead has been made wonderful through Jesus.

Praise God!