Pressing Forward

Pressing Forward

Paul writes this while in prison — not the most obvious position from which to describe the forward press of a race. But the forward orientation is deliberate: the prison is not his destination, and neither is his past, however impressive (verses 4-6) or however painful. The one thing he does is not multiple aspirations competing for priority. It is the single, focused pursuit that makes every other thing subordinate. A spiritual director described Paul's 'one thing' as the theological practice of 'ordered affection' — knowing what comes first because you know where the finish line is.

Philippians 3:13-14 describes the Christian life as a race with a specific directional quality: forward. Forgetting what is behind — whether past failures (which could produce guilt and paralysis) or past successes (which could produce complacency and pride). Straining toward what is ahead — the word epekteinomai describes a runner leaning forward so that the body leads the stride. Pressing toward the goal — the prize is the 'upward call of God in Christ Jesus.' Not a prize at the end of the street but one that comes from heaven itself. The race is not toward achievement but toward the person who is calling you home. Run forward. Forget what is behind. Press on.