I Press On Toward the Goal
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:13-14
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Introduction
We have come to the end of this series. Over five weeks, we have walked together through the words of Paul — words written from a prison cell, yet overflowing with life. We have learned to forget what lies behind, to strain forward, to run with purpose. Today we arrive at the heart of it all: keeping the final destination in view until we get there.
There is an image that stays with me. Picture a runner in a long race — ten thousand meters, maybe. Halfway through, the lungs are burning, the legs are heavy, every instinct screams to stop. What makes the difference in that moment? Not the strength in his legs. It is the finish line he can see in the distance. The goal keeps him moving. Paul understood this better than anyone.
For Paul, the goal was not a human trophy or the applause of men. It was Christ. Full communion with Him, the resurrection of the dead, the consummation of everything God has promised. And it is precisely that goal calling to us today — not halfway there, not settled comfortably in the stands, but running, all the way to the end.
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1. The Goal Defines the Direction
Paul uses a precise word: goal. In the original language, it pictures a runner with eyes fixed on a specific point. There is no wandering, no hesitation. The goal defines where you run — and it defines equally what you leave behind along the way.
Many Christians live without a defined goal. They believe, they attend, they participate — but they are not running toward anything in particular. The result is a vague faith, tossed about by any wind. Paul was not like that. He knew exactly where he was headed: "the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." His calling was not a job or a position. It was a summons from on high, from God Himself, one that would only be fully realized in eternity with Christ.
Practical application: I want to ask you today — what is your goal? Not your plans for this year. Your eternal goal. If we can answer that clearly, our entire lives reorganize themselves around that answer. Choices become clearer, sacrifices make more sense, and perseverance has a foundation to stand on.
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2. The Forgetting That Frees and the Memory That Holds Us Back
Paul makes a distinction that is subtle but powerful: "forgetting what is behind." This is not spiritual amnesia. It is a deliberate decision not to let the past govern the present.
For some of us, the past is glory — accomplishments, recognition, great spiritual seasons. The danger is getting stuck in how things used to be, refusing what God wants to do right now. For others, the past is shame — failures, sins, wounds. The danger is letting those shadows convince us it is not worth pressing on.
Paul had both kinds of past. He had been a persecutor of the Church. He had also been a model Pharisee, with credentials that were the envy of his peers. He chose not to be defined by either one. The cross of Christ had turned his glorious past into rubbish and his shameful past into forgiveness. Free from both, he could run.
Practical application: Is there something from your past that is holding you back? Bring it to the foot of the cross today. Not to pretend it never happened — but to stop giving it the power to dictate your future. God does not define you by what is behind you. He calls you by what lies ahead.
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3. Pressing On to the End
The word Paul uses for press on is a hunting word — it describes someone pursuing with fierce determination, refusing to give up. This is not a leisurely walk. It is a passionate pursuit. And what Paul is pursuing is Christ — to know Him more fully, to become like Him, to reach Him.
This is the great truth with which we close this series: the Christian life is not an arrival, it is a continuing journey. It is not enough to have started well. It is not enough to have had a strong testimony for many years. Paul, with decades of ministry behind him, says: "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it." The humility to keep running is the mark of Christian maturity.
Practical application: Today, I want to invite you to renew your commitment. Not simply to believe, but to pursue — Christ, holiness, the eternal calling to which we have been summoned. Every day, in every small decision, we are athletes choosing to keep our eyes on the goal or to look away.
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Conclusion
Throughout this series, we have traveled a road together. Today we arrive at its summary: the final destination is Christ, and the race is worth every effort, every sacrifice, every morning we choose to begin again. The prize is not a medal. It is the Lord Himself. And He is waiting for us at the finish line with open arms. Do not stop. Press on. The goal is in sight.
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Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being both our goal and our prize. May we run each day with our eyes fixed on You, forgetting what lies behind and pressing on with determination toward everything You are calling us to become. May we not give up until the end. Amen.
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