Reaching for the Prize ahead

Paul, the Apostle selected a goal for his life, and he placed before himself the reality of a life ahead, a life described for him in the prophets, and a life revealed to him by Jesus Christ himself. With this image of life ahead, he set himself to act differently; to live differently and everything he learned about Christ told him that all he gave up attaining this goal, was worth it. The image that helped him and held him was the Millennial Kingdom, when he, along with the church would be new, living a life intended for him and us, planned by God for us, even before the garden of Eden.

Philippians 3:7-16 is our passage before us today. (vs 10) Paul says that he has a goal: "My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings...". The last portion of this verse tells us that this goal is for this life in that "the fellowship of his sufferings" can only be known here. The sufferings here can lead to physical death, ("being conformed to his death") and particularly for Paul, who was in the crosshairs of the "enemies of the cross of Christ", and was pursued by them for the purpose of destroying him. But Paul assumed that he would "reach the resurrection of the dead" and that the grave would not end his life on earth ultimately. Paul died approximately 2000 years ago but his resurrection will come one day, as will all of ours who know Christ. The Millennial Kingdom reveals that life to come.

So Paul's "goal" (vs 10 and 12) "to know Christ" (vs 8) in the present tense, even though he knew Christ the day he acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior, reflects his attitude which he adopted after he was saved when he acknowledged "faith in Christ - the righteousness from God based on faith" (vs 9), to not consider himself to have "taken hold" or to be complete, though in terms of salvation he was, but his attitude was to reach forward, to keep the image of the future life, which is the life in the Millennial Kingdom in view and to work toward that goal.

This is why pastors should be preaching the Millennial Kingdom, so that people have this image, constantly renewed by preaching, because this image gives power, hope and faith to continue, to strive, to work on our character and how we behave, and impacts our sanctification. If the image of what is to come impacts our sanctification, then our sanctification is progressive, and our love for Him, and our "reaching forward" (vs 13) is our part as we allow the Holy Spirit to have full reign in our minds and hearts. Once the image of the Millennial Kingdom is in view, the power of the sanctification, this image creates cannot be overstated. It is the sweetest of fruit in the Spirit.

When we 'see' the Millennial Kingdom, we have an image, and knowledge of what we are being saved for, and it gives us the strength we need. Many believe that 'once saved always saved' is correct, and yes, it has support in Scripture, but for me personally, and for Paul - I maintain the 'attitude' (vs 8) as Paul states, of pressing toward it, and do not regard the fact that I already have attained, but forgetting the past, reach toward what is to come.