Sermon, October 4, 2020

Going back is no option

Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one this I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

There is merit in reflecting on events and experiences in life so that the understand of where we have come from can help to shape our future and that of others.

However, there are those who look at their past only as a means of boasting about their exploits, and not with a view of charting the future.

When Paul wrote from his prison cell to the church at Philippi, his reference to his past not to boast, but it was his way of admonishing those gentiles who had come into the Christian faith not to fall for the teachings and practices of those whom he called legalists and mischief makers, those who mutilate the flesh (a reference to circumcision) as a means of pleasing God. these teachings and practices which were contrary to their faith and belief in Jesus. instead he urged them to take great delight -to be happy and to enjoy their new life in the Lord.

He established the ground for admonishing as he did by referring to his past life and what he could and perhaps did boasted in his past life when He declared

“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, (or to boast) I have more: Circumcised on the eighth day: of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin: a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”

Those are things which any pharisee would have boasted about, and Saul, as he was known then, would have been no exception.

Luke 18 records that Jesus told of the parable of the two men went up to the temple to pray, one of them waw a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.

This is an example that Pharisees like Saul (Paul) believed that they were doing what was needed to be pleasing to God.

After having had an encounter with Jesus and coming into a life transforming relationship with him, he realized that there was nothing in his past for him to boast about. So, instead of boasting about his days as a devout Pharisee, he used it as a means of convincing the former gentiles at Philippi that he was not simply writing for the sake it, not just any letter but he was addressing them from his personal knowledge and experience, in order to guide and encourage them in their life in Christ.

You see my friends, when we come into a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ our past can take on new meaning as we witness to the love and saving grace of God through His Son. But we first must be honest with ourselves and honest with God for that witness to be convincing and effective.

As Saul the apostle was deeply committed to what he was doing as he persecuted the Christians. He was deeply committed to life as a Pharisee. As Paul he became even more committed to promoting not just the name of Jesus but having a living faith in him. A faith that transforms and shapes lives.

We need always to ask ourselves what I am committed to?

In these times some of are committed to our jobs, not necessarily to give their best in service but for what can be gained. Recall the laborer who was upset that when he was paid what, was agreed those who did not do as work was paid the same.

Some are so committed to our favorite sport that when it is being played other important things like family time suffer. Some are committed to modern technology and social media to the point that we forget how to have face to face interactions with others and so can no longer socialize in meaningful ways. Some are committed to causes which are deemed just and right, while other critical needs in society are left unattended.

Some of these commitments can have merit, but whenever they are placed ahead or our a commitment to God in Jesus Christ, then we must pause, take stock of where we are going in life and ask, what does life mean life for us? Is this what God wants of us?

God desires that we come to faith in him through Jesus Christ, and that each life be so lived and guided by that faith daily, as a witness to the grace of God which he freely bestows upon those who love him.

Paul declares that whatever was having any profit for hm, whatever he thought he was gaining, he considered those things as loss because the value of knowing Christ far outweighs the value of anything else that we may hold dear to us. In fact, Paul he uses the word translated rubbish (in the New International version) to describe those things. What do we normally do with rubbish? Get rid of it!

Are there things in our own lives, that we hold dear to us, that can be considered rubbish when compared to knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection? Are there things standing in the way of our sharing in Christ’s suffering death and attaining unto the resurrection?

Could it be an urge to go back in time to the ways of living before experiencing God’s saving grace? Could it be old friends who discourage us from living our lives for God? Could it be the things that seemed to provide enjoyment and satisfaction? Could it be the fame and popularity we may have known back then? COULD IT BE PRIDE? What are the things causing us to stumble and to look back instead of pressing forward to the goal before us?

My friends, when we would have come into fellowship with Jesus, the journey or race does not end but it becomes more challenging.

Sometimes our journey with Christ can be like running a race against the force of strong winds, or of swimming against the tide. There can be discouragement. Struggles with illnesses can create doubt and discouragement concerning God’s love. We sometime hear things like ‘If he loves us why does he allow us to suffer? Why do we have to deal with the tragic death of loved ones? Why allow injustice and hatred? Why is there so much among the majority while others have more than they can ever use wisely? Why such homelessness and hunger? These are some of the issues that can well create discouragement. If this is what God allows, why bother?

In the book of Exodus, we read that as the children of Israel were being led out of captivity they were pursued by Pharaoh and became terrified and cried out to God in fear of what might happen to them. Here were God’s children, on a journey to freedom, accusing Moses of bringing them out to die in the desert, and declaring that they would have been better off serving the Egyptians. They wanted the good old days of servitude to the Egyptians rather than having faith that God would deliver them. We know that story that God brought them out by the might of his hand and the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him.

My friends, the journey may be long and difficult, but turning back or giving up should never be considered as options. What is needed is that we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (each of us) heavenward in Christ Jesus, and do so in the knowledge that by God’s grace we will attain the goal

Amen