“But One Thing I Do”

David Eldridge

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14). Let us examine this “one thing” Paul did that enabled him to live a hopeful, joyful, and faithful life.

Forgetting Those Things Behind – Have you ever tried to walk backwards with your face turned from the direction that you are heading? Not very easy is it? If we tried to walk this way I would venture to say that we wouldn’t get very far without falling and finally giving up. Paul was concerned with having forward motion, but to do that he had to stop looking behind him. Have you ever made any mistakes? Sure you have, and Paul shared with us in this facet of human life (Romans 3:23). He held the coats as Stephen was stoned to death, put Christians in chains, and sent them to their death. Sometimes we are tempted to mire ourselves down with our past sins. We continually beat ourselves up over them – we live a life riddled with guilt and try to lug it around with us all the time. Paul’s message? Don’t carry around burdens God has already lifted! God said, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12). All my sins that have been washed by the blood of the Lamb; God has forgotten. If God has let them go shouldn’t we? Once you received God’s forgiveness forget those things which are behind for you will never move forward if you are always looking back.

Reaching Forward – The word translated “reaching forward” is “used figuratively to suggest intense effort as well as firm purpose” (Louw and Nida). Paul had a goal in mind (the Heavenly prize), and was prepared to reach forward towards it with all his might. Some never make the first move forward in becoming a Christian thereby forfeiting any hope of an eternal home in Heaven. Yet others become Christians only to sit back on the track of life, forget their purpose, and never move forward towards the goal. There is a crown awaiting those who move forward as they run life’s race that they might obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24). Let us “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Don’t live in the past, look to the future, and strive for that eternal prize.