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PHILIPPIANS 3:13, 14

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 2, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 47.

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PHILIPPIANS 3:13, 14.

By G. A. Snyder

BY G. A. SNYDER.
WE have brought to view in this text three very important steps in the Christian life, (1) forgetting, (2) reaching, (3) pressing.
The first step, “forgetting those things which are behind,” is so self-evidently necessary that it seems useless to enlarge upon the thought. And yet there are many persons who find it hard to forget those things. In their very effort to forget them they keep them continually in mind, so that they cannot refer to their former conversation as those things, but the main question with them is, Why can I not forget those things?
The reason is evident,—it is because they have neglected to take the second step,—“reaching forth unto those things which are before.” The only way to forget those things which are behind is to keep our minds so busily engaged in reaching forth unto those things which are before that the other things will naturally sink into the sea of forgetfulness.
But this is not all. After having forgotten those things that are behind, by letting our minds reach forth unto those things which are before, we must, if we ever expect to enter the pearly gates, walk the golden streets, pluck the never-fading flowers, and dwell in those mansions which our Saviour has gone to prepare, “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Suppose you were drifting down a river in a boat with only two oars. You hear a voice, and, turning in your seat, you see just below you a beautiful craft lying to in the middle of the stream, and hear the captain calling you to come aboard. You at once forget everything behind, and your mind reaches forth unto that which is before; but if you expect to set foot on that vessel, you must lay hold of those oars, and press toward it. If you do not, you will drift out into the ocean, and be lost.
We are drifting down the river of time; I would that we were all in the boat of God’s preparing, with its two mighty oars, “the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Just before us stretches the ocean of eternity; the ark of eternal safety is just ahead. The Master’s voice is calling, “Come,” “And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come.” God help us to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”