Phil 3:12-13 "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,"
Archers take into account the wind and use the laws of aerodynamics to their advantage. When trying to reach far away targets archers have to aim forward and higher to reach a greater distance. We are like archers in the sense that we also have a target to reach and a goal to obtain in Christ. We must take into account our spiritual condition and use all the spiritual tools given to us for our advantage if we are to meet that goal. Paul understood this and encourages us to do the same by forgetting those things that are behind us and reaching forward toward all that lies ahead of us in Christ. Past failures and sins can discourage us from moving forward if we don't stop reminding ourselves of them. Present sin as well can hinder us from reaching our full potential in Christ. I find it interesting that archers say they "sinned" when they miss their target, or bull's eye. Strong's concordance defines the word also as "to miss the mark". Sin will cause us to miss our target in Christ; the changes He wants to make in our life, the blessings that come from obedience, and the impact we have in this world for Him! What target are you aiming at? What goals do you have? Are they merely financial and educational goals? Or do you also set goals for yourself in the lord? Christ is the author and perfecter of our faith and He will help us to walk in all He has waiting for us, ultimately we will have all of Him and He all of us. So aim high and develop a forward motion!
- WHAT COURSE HAS GOD SET YOU ON? WHAT CAUSES YOU TO PRESS ON FOR CHRIST?
- C.S. Lewis- "Failures are finger posts on the way to achievement."
- Charles Noble- “you must have long range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short term failures!”
- Zig Ziglar: “if you aim at nothing you will hit every time”