Steps on the Way of Holiness
What does it mean to “be holy”? We are learning from the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians chapter 3. Today we look at vv12-16.
What are you looking forward to? I guess we all have short-term hopes: as I write this I am looking forward to a nice mug of soup for lunch! We probably also have medium-term hopes; maybe we are looking forward this year to seeing a friend or family member whom we haven’t seen for ages.
But what about long-term looking forward?
Paul writes in Phil.3:13-14:
“One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
The Bible likens Christians to runners in an endurance race: not that we compete against each other, but there is a wonderful prize for those who make it to the end.
This is how Paul sees it. He describes himself as utterly focussed, like an athlete. He does not look back to his past achievements (vv4-6). Instead,
firstly (a) He looks forward (v13) to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ better (v10). Paul is very aware that he has not reached perfection, but Christ has taken hold of him so that he can fulfil Christ’s purpose (v12). And the glorious climax of that purpose is resurrection (v11)!
Secondly (b) He looks upward (v14). Paul’s mind-set is not on transient earthly issues, but on what matters for eternity. He wrote to the Colossians “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col.3:2). And he does exactly that himself.
What about us? In which directions are we looking?
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb.12:2) Christians should be people who look forward, and upward. Pray that this may be true of us as individuals and as a church.
Our response
Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
lift up your eyes, and seek his face:
life with its way before you lies,
Christ is the path and Christ the prize.
