Pressing forward

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Jun Malazo

"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, KJV)

The new year always brings a mixture of feelings.  For some, the new year represents a brand new start or perhaps a restart of some failed endeavor in the past, while for others it brings feelings of apprehension because of the unknown future.

However the new year makes you feel, you cannot avoid its coming.  It is inevitable.  Whatever challenges that you will be facing in the near future, you can have the assurance that you will not have to face them alone.  This is because God designed the Christian life to be lived victoriously but living the Christian life does not mean living a life without any problems or challenges.  In fact, many Christians would readily admit that life often brings a unique set of problems even to the most dedicated followers.

Living a victorious Christian life is possible because of the power that is available to us.  God has given every Christian the tools and principles in the Bible that they need to help them live a victorious Christian life.  God wants believers to press forward in their lives as the Apostle Paul said, “…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  In this article we will discuss some principles that will help all of us move forward into the coming year.

To begin with, it is important to highlight the reasons I believe Christians find themselves defeated and discouraged by their problems.  It is an important matter to contemplate because if God has promised victory, then we must consider why Christians find themselves in such a predicament.  First, I believe Christians are defeated because they become prisoners of the past.  Notice that the Apostle Paul said, “…forgetting those things which are behind….”  The word forgetting literally means to “lose out of mind”. 

Our unwillingness or inability to let go of the past is the number one reason for our defeat and discouragement.  There are a number of ways Christians become prisoners of the past.  Some of the major reasons are hurt and bitterness.  These are the two areas are where Christians struggle the most to overcome.  We must understand that the world is full of injustices.  The Lord Himself said:

"If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. "  (John 15:18-20, KJV)

By nurturing the wounds of the past, we keep ourselves trapped in a prison of our own making.  We must learn from the past but never allow the past keep us captive of the future blessings of God. 

Another reason I believe why Christians find themselves unable to press forward is the fear of failure.  Past failures have discouraged many Christians from moving forward.  Because of failures in the past, they fear failure in the future so much so that they are unwilling to even try any longer. 

Many years ago, as a young pastor, I experienced what I would refer to as a colossal failure.  My inexperience and youthful pride led to my lack of discernment and judgement.  I remember feeling discouraged to the point which almost led to my departure from the ministry.  But an older, wiser, and more seasoned pastor took the time to encourage me.  He sent me a card and he wrote the following quote from President Theodore Roosevelt:

“The only man who makes no mistake is the man who never does anything.”

In other words, mistakes are a part of life.  If we ever do strive to do anything in life there’s a great chance that we will make mistakes along the way.  Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.  When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?”  Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times.  The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” 

We need be thankful to the Lord that He gives us second chances.  He said, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief"  (Proverbs 24:16, KJV).  The Psalmist said, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."  (Psalms 103:8, KJV).  I thank the Lord for that pastor that helped me to press forward.

One last area that hinders Christians from pressing forward is sin.  Sin will rob us of the joy and blessings of God.  The Bible says, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."  (Proverbs 28:13, KJV)

The nation of Israel under Joshua’s command learned this lesson with a high price.  After a successful campaign against Jericho, Joshua and the nation of Israel were preparing to conquer the city of Ai (see Joshua 7).  However,because of the sin of one man (Achan), they were defeated in Ai which resulted in the deaths of many and the discouragement of the whole nation.  The Lord revealed to Joshua the reason for the defeat:

"Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you."  (Joshua 7:11-12, KJV)

Sin will always hinder us from pressing forward.  The Lord said, “…except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”  God takes sin so seriously that it could mean His lack of blessings and power in our lives.  Before pressing forward, we must examine our lives with these three hindrances in mind.

As we press forward we must consider our priorities.  Sometimes pressing forward means a rearrangement of our priorities.  Try to look back at your schedule and how you spent your time last year and see what areas need more time and attention and what could require less.  Keep in mind that there are priorities in a Christian’s life that are absolute—they are non-negotiable.  One of these areas is our personal worship and devotion with God.  God desires to have a consistent relationship with us. 

The Apostle Paul said, "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, KJV).  Elsewhere, he said, "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, KJV).  It is apparent that in the life of the Apostle Paul that his main priority was his relationship with God, and because of this he greatly impacted the world.  My desire as a husband, father, and as pastor is to have a deeper relationship with God.  If this is prioritized in our lives, then everything else will fall in line where it belongs. 

What are your priorities?  Is God taking first place in your life?  Our success in the Christian life will depend upon our relationship with God.  The Apostle John wrote:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. "  (John 15:4-5, KJV)

As you face the coming year, you can face it with confidence as you depend upon God.  Remember that God is sovereign.  He already knows the kind of storms we will be facing in the coming year, and He is in control of each of them.