“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NKJV)

Paul pictures himself as in a race, straining every nerve and muscle and exerting every ounce of strength, like a runner, with bulging veins, lest he fall short of the goal. That goal was that he might attain unto the resurrection from the dead (v. 11).

This was the secret of Paul’s life. He had had a glimpse of the glory of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:4) and was determined that he would, by the grace of Christ, get there, with as many others as he could possibly persuade to come along. This chapter is one of the fullest statements of Paul’s own, personal hope of heaven, where our citizenship is (v. 20). We are strangers here; our homeland is there. Our walk is here; our hearts are there.

Let us continually move toward the same goal. Let us put our highest efforts for it is worth all the exertions which a mortal, like all of us, can make even in the longest life.

Sources:

Halley, Henry H. Halley’s Bible Handbook. ePub Format. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000.

MySword for Android. Riversoft Ministry, 2011-2019.

Olive Tree Bible Software, 1998-2020.

http://www.biblegateway.com

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