Calvin Synod Herald, 2018 (118. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
2018-01-01 / 1-2. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Continued front Page 7 did yesterday - how they USE to do this, how they USE to do that - coasting into retirement without regard to the work TODAY. We ought to LEARN from our past, not YEARN for it. Secondly, not only should you forget those things behind you, but we must focus on the things before you. Focus on the things before you - listen to it again, “straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ” Paul is alluding to the Olympic athlete who races in competition with others for a prize. He runs with all his might. And as he approaches the finish line, he stretches, or leans forward at the last possible second in order to be the FIRST to cross. At that moment, he’s not thinking about past successes or failures - his entire focus is on winning the race at hand. Two things need to be remembered here: First, this race demands my whole self, everything I am, everything I have, to serving the Lord right now. Whenever I talk to folks about ministry, I enjoy hearing about what they’ve done - but I LOVE hearing what they ARE DOING right now. What are YOU doing, right now??? As Christians, it ought to be our passion to serve the Lord with excellence! Solomon tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes that whatever we put our hands to ought to be done with all our might. We ought NEVER be satisfied with less than our very best when it comes to serving the Lord. Secondly, keep the goal in sight. What IS the goal? Paul explains, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The person who trains for athletic competition doesn’t sacrifice and spend all those hours because he wants to come in Second place. His goal is to WIN. In the Olympics, the three-tiered platfonn is ever on the athlete’s mind. He wants to be called up to stand above his peers as the judge places the crown on his head. That was Paul’s goal too. He knew that one day he would stand before the judge of this universe - and he wanted to hear Him say, “well done, good and faithful servant...” It was not the applause of men, but the approval of God he desired. In light of ALL that Jesus had done for HIM, he wanted to give his very best to the Lord. I’ve heard a lot of well-meaning Christians say, “1 don’t care anything about rewards - making it to heaven will be good enough for me.” They don’t realize what they are saying. Serving the Lord with all our might is the greatest way we have of worshipping Him. All the crowns we receive in heaven we’ll cast at his feet as an offering of praise for all that Jesus means to us - as if to say - “I would never have accomplished anything without YOU.” And I for one don’t want to be found empty handed on that day. The ultimate goal for any Christian ought to be honoring the Lord. So, dear friend, as we stand on the brink of this New Year, ask yourself, “What can I do this year that will help me bring glory and honor to the Lord?” And then finally, not only should we forget those things that are behind and focus on the things that are before, third, we should Fulfill those things that are beyond us. Listen to verse 12, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ” Commenting on this passage, M. R. DeHaan said, “Self-satisfaction is the death of progress. Dissatisfaction with past accomplishments is the mother of invention - pity the man who is content with his own progress and feels he has arrived. This is all the more true in the Christian life. Nothing is as deadly as self-satisfaction. The most boring people I have ever met are those who take up my time telling me what they have done - when they ought to be doing something NOW.” No one would have found fault with Paul had he reached this place in his life and said, “You know, I think I’m gonna retire...I’ve worked hard. I’ve served the Lord faithfully all these years. I’ve put myself out there. It’s time to do a little something for me.” But he didn’t say that - instead, he said, “I haven’t attained what 1 want to attain -1 have not reached the place I want to be. I’m not finished yet.” Paul would not be satisfied until he took his last breath giving his all to Jesus. Paul did a work that was BEYOND him. Working by day - preaching by night. He suffered just about every hardship a man could endure: starvation, rejection, and controversy. He was stoned, beaten, and left for dead. Demands many and rewards few. The average man would have folded under the weight of obligation. But Paul was empowered by God to do a work that was beyond him - establishing churches all over the Middle East and portions of Europe and Asia. Sold out. Utterly committed. Listen friend... the Christian life is beyond us. Serving the Lord with perseverance and power is beyond us. As we look at the call of God upon our church to reach souls for Christ, to help family and friends find the life and love of Christ, to change lives and eternal destinies - THAT work is beyond us. But God is able to do great things through those who are not satisfied. He is able to achieve great things through ordinary people completely surrendered to His will. Looking back, we are certainly thankful for all the Lord has done. But my friends, I refuse to focus on that - 1 believe God is going to take us places we have not yet Continued on Page 9
