Reaching Forward
PHIL. 3:13-14

Solomon said, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” Eccl. 7:8.
1. Is that the way we feel about life itself?
a. If so, in what sense do we believe the end of our lives is to be better than the beginning?
Much of the quality of life is determined by the metaphors we choose to represent life’s experiences to ourselves.
(1) As a basic metaphor for life, many people choose to live life in different ways:
(a) Some look at life as a problem. It’s a burden that’s mostly unpleasant.
(b) They just do nothing but wait for it to be over.
(2) Others look at life as an opportunity. A growth process leading to a goal.
Do we think in terms of a growing season during which we work toward a great harvest?
Do we think of life as a good thing that moves us ever closer to something even better than we’ve ever known before?
(B) Which of these two perspectives has a biggest impact on the quality of our lives.
The Bible speaks about the importance of our attitude toward the end of life.
Phil. 3:13-14, has an especially important message.
This passage teaches several things.
We want to look at it as closely as possible this hour.
For the Christian, life is moving toward something well worth reaching for.
Several scriptures use the word telos. It means a goal, end, outcome, culmination, the purpose toward which something moves.
Used in Rom. 6:22.
Heb. 3:6.
Heb. 3:14.
Peter uses this word Telos this way in 1 Pet. 1:9.
b. By nature, we strive to grow, to make progress in life and to work toward goals.
(1) We need to have significant goals in the daily living of life as Christians.
(1) Some times our goals are inadequate. At other times our goals are not big enough — we underestimate what is possible and have too little vision, or at other times our goals are too general and vague. And we do not break down our goals into specific, doable actions.
(1) But perhaps, most often, we are merely dreamers who do not keep commitments to ourselves in regard to our goals. People like that have no
discipline, no integrity. Therefore they don’t work to reach their goals.
(2) The moral of that story is simple. Time spent improving the quality of our
goals is time well spent.
(2) It’s important that we grow in our understanding of our purpose and our ultimate goal in life as God’s people.
(1) Heaven is our most important goal, and it is very real. Paul described it as
“The prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” Phil. 3:14.
(2) Matt. 16:26, asks that all improtant question. Nothing else matters if we lose
our souls and heaven.
(2) Hear Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in, Eph. 1:18. A major part of our Christian growth is growth in comprehending, understanding our spiritual goal in life.

(1) The goal of heaven — eternal life with God — needs to be real to us Phip. 2:13, says we need to “reach forward to those things which are ahead.” Why?
Because they really are ahead! You need to believe that and live for it!!
(1) Phil. 3:13?14. We are to “forget” things of the past and “reach forward to” other things.
(2) That means it’s possible for us to choose our focus in Life.
(3) Forget the things that are behind. Your past sins are not to be a hinderence to your growth.
(4) Don’t keep dwelling on and asking God’s forgiveness of sins He has already forgiven. Ask and all God can say is, “I don’t remember.”
(5) Do not allow yourself to be plagued with constant shame that beats you down and makes you ineffective. That’s a favorite tool of Satan.
(2) Life requires a certain amount of mental self-discipline to keep us focused on God and not on the past and the present distractions Satan puts before us.
(1) It’s easy to get “bogged down” in life. That’s what work-a-holics do.
(2) Their work becomes their God. It’s the most important thing in their life.
(3) The same can be true of our commitments to people, organizations, hobbies, recreation. Don’t let your life be wasted on anything that will deter your goal of eternal life.
2. It’s hard to get unstuck. It’s hard to overcome the “Inertia.” It’s hard, but it can be done.
1. ! Cor. 9:24-27.
2. We need to determine that we are going to keep our thinking directed toward our goal.
3. Hear Paul’s plea in Gal. 6:9.
4. Acts 20:32.

Spur - 07/08 /2001 am