When Paul wrote Philippians, the Olympic Games had been around for 700 years. And though the early Christians had reservations about the Greek games -- not least the invocation of the gods and all the violence -- it didn't stop writers like Paul from pulling big lessons from the games about spiritual reality. "Learn from those athletes," Paul might have said. "Start with ditching your small ambitions. Be as passionate about your Christianity as athletes are about sports."
In Phil. 3:12-16 there's an image of a racecourse stretching out before a runner who's pressing on to reach the finish line and win the prize. Paul is emphatic: He hasn't yet attained complete knowledge of Christ. Yet that doesn't discourage him. Instead, his imperfect knowledge drives him on to know Christ more and more.
Think of a marathon runner. You have a consuming desire to run the race. You're almost obsessed with it. In a sense, the total focus of your life is to finish the race. The fact that the race is long and arduous doesn't dampen your ardor in the least. Rather, the challenge drives you forward. The unimaginably difficult distance doesn't deter you. You're keenly aware of the immensity of the task. It's difficulty could easily paralyze you if you let it. Nevertheless, the reason you signed up for the race is precisely because of the greatness of the effort involved. As a consequence, you set out on the course to see whether you have what it takes to complete it successfully. Past attainments are forgotten. The only thing that matters now is continual concentration. Your head is fixed forward, never glancing backward over your shoulder. With resolute determination, you pursue the end of the course.
If that doesn't describe the Christian life!
Thankfully, Paul doesn't expect us to achieve everything on our own. There is a God who is in charge of it all, whose purpose is to make us like his Son. As we obey the truth he's already given us, he himself will take control of the process.
In the meantime, like Paul we have not yet "arrived." We are still on the way.
 |
| Finishing the St. George Marathon in Utah. Of my 20 marathons, this race remains my PR. |