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Press on Towards the Goal

blog-runners

I ran competitively in high school and also ran many races in my young adult years. When I was in high school I had this bad habit, I would be ahead in a race but I‘d keep looking behind me. It would give runners behind me a chance to get closer. My coach told me to keep looking to the finish line, to look to the goal, and forget what was behind me.

In Phil. 4:13 Paul says “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” A believer’s aim and focus must be to forget all the good and bad things from the past, not resting on our laurels or wallowing in our sin, but looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. 

Jesus saved me when I was a college student and my whole life was transformed. I believed the Gospel of God’s grace in Christ, who died in my place, took the punishment for my sin, shed His blood, was buried, rose from the dead, and is coming back, and my worldview changed. My life was rearranged. I wanted to serve Jesus with my whole heart.

I ran many workouts and races thinking about Phil. 4:13, reciting that verse for many miles. 1 Tim. 4:8 says “bodily exercise is of some value but godliness is profitable for all things.” As 2 Cor. 5:9 says “we make it our aim to please Him.” Titus 2:13 says “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Jesus is our life. We are citizens of heaven; from there we eagerly await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We look to Him. He is our sufficiency. The sinless sovereign Savior. Our only hope. Run the race with Christ in sight. Pour all your energy into following him. You will never be put to shame. Wait for His upward call. Praise the glories of God’s grace in Christ forever.