LIVING IN TIME
SCRIPTURE: READ Philippians 3:7-14
* Philippians 3:13 - 14
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, (v. 14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
INTRODUCTION
“There is an allusion here
undoubtedly to the Grecian races. One running to secure the prize would not
stop to look behind him to see how much ground he had run over, or who of his
competitors had fallen or lingered in the way. He would keep his eye steadily
on the prize, and strain every nerve that he might obtain it. If his attention was diverted for a moment
from that, it would hinder his flight, and might be the means of his losing the
crown.” Albert Barnes
What is tonight all
about? It’s about the beginning of a
New Year. It’s all about new
beginnings, new opportunities. It’s all
about time.
I. PAST
A.
Forgetting (Remember to forget.)
1.
Past Accomplishments (This is really what Paul was referring to.)
a. When they interfere with looking forward.
Phil 3:8 “for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
“NOTHING so renders our real excellences vain and
puffs them away, as to be remembering the good deeds we have done; for this
produces two evils, it both renders us remiss [negligent, thoughtless,
careless], and raises us to haughtiness [pride, arrogance].” St. John Chrysostom
b. The “good ole days” are in the past. Enjoy them, but do not enshrine them.
2.
Past Failures
Some people think one way to
avoid failure is to do nothing. But
then again, isn’t failure to try failure?
3.
Past Sins that are under the blood.
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Matthew 6:10-12 “Thy kingdom come, Thy will
be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (v. 11) Give us this day our daily bread. (v. 12) And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.”
Phil. 3:9 “not having mine own
righteousness,”
“It may be, and is, profitable for a
Christian to look over the past mercies of God to his soul, in order to awaken
emotions of gratitude in the heart, and to think of his shortcomings and
errors, to produce penitence and humility. But none of these
things should be allowed for one moment to divert the mind from the purpose to
win the incorruptible crown. And it may be remarked in general, that a
Christian will make more rapid advances in piety by looking forward
than by looking backward.” Albert
Barnes
4.
For the most part, don’t look back.
Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”
B. Forgiving
“Humanity is never so beautiful as
when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another.” -Jean Paul Richter
1.
Yourself
2.
Others
II. PRESENT
“We are a little too much disposed
to glorify the past and prophesy concerning the future, forgetful of the fact
that the only golden age about which we need
really concern ourselves is at our doors.”
-Elmo.
A. Reaching (3:13)
The Greek word, to reach forth, signifies to stretch
out the neck; a metaphor from racers, who strain every limb, and reach forward to lay hold
on the prize.
--> with hand and
foot, like a runner in a race, and the body bent forward. The Christian is always
humbled by the
contrast between what he is and what he desires to be. The eye reaches before
and draws on the hand,
the hand reaches before and draws on the foot [BENGEL].
B. Pressing
(3:14)
III. FUTURE
A. Differing
Views
1.
Optimistic
There is an old story about a happy little
boy who went out into the field. He had on his baseball
cap & was carrying a baseball & bat. And on his face there was a look
of tremendous confidence. Cocking his bat,
he tossed the ball into the air, saying, "I’m the greatest batter in the
world!" Then he swung & missed. "Strike one," he said. He picked up the ball, examined it, &
then threw it into the air again. As he swung, he repeated, "I’m the
greatest batter in the world." Once again he missed. "Strike
two," he said. This time, he
stopped to examine his bat to make sure there wasn’t a hole in it. Then he
picked up the ball, adjusted his cap, & tossed the ball into the air for
the 3rd time. He repeated again,
"I’m the greatest batter in the world," & swung with all his
might - & missed for the 3rd straight time. "Wow" he cried,
"What a pitcher. I’m the greatest pitcher in the world! I just struck out the greatest batter in the
world!”
2. Pessimistic -->Would say, “I struck out
again!!! I knew I would!”
3.
Realistic -->Would say, “I tried my best. I just wasn’t able to connect this time.”
B. Toward the
Mark. (3:14) --> The end. The
finish line. The intended goal.
1.
The High Calling
a. Called out.
(1) To be separate.
II Cor. 6:17
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I
will receive you.”
(2) To be witnesses.
b. Called up.
(1) To the better things.
- A
better hope. Heb. 7:19
-A better
Testament. Heb. 7:22
-A better
Covenant. Heb. 8:6
-Better
promises. Heb. 8:6
(2) To a Better Place.
-A Better
Country. Heb. 11:16 “But now they desire
a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared
for them a city.”
The
true goal of the Christian life is heaven; nothing more, nothing less, and
nothing else.
-A Better
Resurrection. Heb. 11:35
2.
Perfection (3:15) -->
Maturity in the faith.
a. Not as old age babes.
Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the
time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which
be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need
of milk, and not of strong meat.”
b. Gifts for perfecting
Ephesians 4:12 “For
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of
the
body of Christ:”
C. For the
Prize. (3:14)
“A Christian will accomplish nothing who has
not a single great aim and purpose of soul.
That purpose should be to secure the prize, and to
renounce everything that would be in the way to its attainment. Let us then so
live that we may be able to say, that there is one great
object which we always have in view, and that we mean to avoid
everything which would interfere with that.”
Albert Barnes
CONCLUSION
A. Where are you
living in time? Past? Present?
Future?
B. What are you
doing with your time?
If We
Had but a Day.
We should
waste no moments in weak regret.
If the day
were but one;
If what we
remember and what we forget
Went out
with the sun;
We should be
from our clamorous selves set free,
To work or
to pray,
To be what
the Father would have us be,
If we had
but a day.
Mrs.
M. L. Dickinson.
I came across some
interesting statistics a few years ago. Someone went to the trouble to research
what people do with their time, & came up with these results:
If we live to be 70, most of us will have spent 3 solid years, 24 hours a day,
acquiring an education - grade school, high school & college. We’ll have
spent 6 years eating, 24 hours a day, - some more, some less, obviously. We’ll
have spent 14 years, day & night, working. We’ll have spent 5 years riding
in automobiles or airplanes.
We’ll have spent 4 years talking with each other - again some more & some
less. We’ll have spent 1 year sick or recovering from sickness. And get this,
we’ll have spent 24 years of our life sleeping!
We’ll have spent 3 years reading books, magazines & newspapers. And 10
years amusing ourselves - watching TV, going to the movies, fishing, etc. That
totals up to 70 years - & that is what the researchers say most of us will
have done with our lives on the average.
“Facing the New Year” by Melvin Newland @ sermoncentral.com