I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
To press toward the mark means to keep moving forward without resting as though the goal were reached, forgetting what lies behind, reaching for what lies ahead, and advancing step by step until the race is run and the victory is gained. Paul confesses that he has not already attained or become perfect, but continues to follow after what Christ called him to grasp. The mark is the goal and the prize is God's high calling in Christ Jesus, which comes from God in Christ and includes the righteousness of Christ and eternal life in the kingdom of glory. Sanctification is progressive and the work of a lifetime, not of a day, going from strength to strength toward perfection and the full stature of Christ in Christlike character. This life is a race and battle requiring patient persevering effort with singleness of purpose, yet done in Christ's strength and not human strength by daily surrender and dependence on Him.
Wording and Original Setting
The words did not originate in a human mind but were declared in vision to Paul, to whom many revelations were given. They are recorded for the benefit of all who desire to be sincere, earnest, wholehearted in obedience to all divine requirements. They declare fundamental principles of the law that states the whole duty of man. The Christian life they present is a pressing toward the goal and the prize of God's calling in Christ, belonging to a call to wholehearted obedience.
To press means to keep moving forward rather than resting as though the goal has already been reached. It means leaving the past behind, reaching toward what lies ahead, and continuing to follow Christ toward the prize of God's high calling in Christ Jesus. It is persevering, patient effort in the race, advancing step by step until the race is run and victory is gained. Past mistakes and failures need not hold the runner back, for with God's help they can be overcome. The mark is the goal of that high calling, and the prize is gained through steadfast continuance in well-doing, a motto to remember while keeping the mind on the Saviour and facing trials.
The mark is the goal and the prize is God's high calling in Christ Jesus. That high calling comes from God in Christ, and as the coming of Christ approaches there is to be advance in piety, zeal, and understanding of it. The prize is the righteousness of Christ, which each person is to strive to attain by taking on Christ's mind, walking and working as He did, in constant self-denial and daily service to others. Reaching the mark involves fixing the eyes on the goal and determinedly continuing to know the Lord more perfectly, faithfully using and developing entrusted abilities in service and revealing a character like His, for those who do not live Christ's life fail to reach it.
Paul does not count himself to have already apprehended, attained, or become perfect, but makes it his one practice to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead while pressing toward the mark. He continues to follow after what Christ called him to grasp, pursuing the holiness and spiritual maturity he urges on others, striving to know Christ, share His sufferings, be conformed to His death, and attain the resurrection. Even after a purified character appears, and even for an apostle who had received extraordinary spiritual experiences, perfection has not yet been attained but is still followed after amid conflict with the powers of darkness, with victories gained and eyes fixed on the prize rather than any claim to be already holy. This modest confession contrasts with boastful claims to be without sin, and the faithfulness of his life gives weight to his exhortation, even while weighed down with responsibilities and torn between living to help others in the flesh and laying down his conflict in death.
Those who are thus minded to keep striving are called perfect, and if anyone is otherwise minded God will reveal correction to them. Therefore those who press toward God's calling in Christ have the promise that they will not be left to grope in doubt and perplexity. Where they have attained they are to walk by the same rule and mind the same thing, following together faithful example and marking those who walk so. This pressing belongs to a heavenly citizenship that looks for the Saviour to change the lowly body to be like His glorious body, standing fast in watchful readiness for His coming, with weeping warning to give no encouragement to enemies of the cross who mind earthly things and whose end is destruction.
Paul's Faithful Example
Paul's great purpose was to remain faithful to Christ and press toward the prize of God's calling in Christ Jesus, with exalting the cross inspiring all his words and actions. Amid many journeys from city to city and country to country preaching and telling the story of the cross, winning converts and establishing churches, carrying constant care and heavy burdens to correct errors and help the churches in difficulty, writing letters of instruction, and at times working with his hands as a tentmaker to earn daily bread, nothing was allowed to divert that one ruling aim. That pressing meant consecrating himself wholly to God's service to serve Christ and win souls to the Saviour, keeping steadfastly before the mind the aim to be faithful, laying aside every weight and besetting sin, and continuing in God's service despite hardship, difficulty, opposition, persecution and worldly attractions. It required self-denial, vigilance against evil, and overcoming obstacles, because the hope of seeing God's face and gaining eternal life and an incorruptible reward is worth all the effort and sacrifice its attainment demands.
His chief aim was to know Christ, to experience the power of His resurrection, to share in His sufferings and be conformed to His death, in hope of attaining the resurrection. He counted former gain and all things loss in order to win Christ and be found in Him, not with his own righteousness from the law or trusting in his own religious standing, but with the righteousness that comes from God by faith. His conversion turned him from self-trust to devoting his life to serving and honoring Christ and winning people to the Saviour, and this continuing pursuit is the duty of all on the one strait and narrow path to heaven, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, following Christ in everything and conforming life to His teachings with the perfection of Christ ever in view. He did not consider himself to have already attained or become perfect, but kept forgetting what was behind, reaching forward to what lay ahead, and pressing toward the goal.
That pressing is sustained by a constant sense of God's presence constraining the runner to keep the eye ever looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith. When weariness and discouragement arise, courage to press forward comes from looking to Jesus rather than dwelling on one's own weakness or relying on one's own strength. Eyes fixed on Him give power to shape character after the divine pattern, with dependence on grace rather than self-sufficiency, and the grace that begins this work will be crowned with glory in God's kingdom.
Progressive Growth Teaching
Sanctification is progressive, the work of a lifetime rather than of a day, not an instant achievement but a continual pursuit after conversion and peace with God. After finding peace the believer keeps reaching forward, forgetting what lies behind and pressing toward the goal of the high calling in Christ, growing toward perfection and the full stature of Christ. This continuing work goes on through daily effort with no thought of security, a constant warfare in which the small duties of everyday life are faithfully performed so as to be trusted with larger responsibilities and do great good. No one is to take for granted that he is saved, for perfection has not already been attained but is followed after, and these words can be spoken when God's test is stood in the refining purifying process where furnace fires have consumed the dross and the true gold of a purified character appears.
The goal pressed toward is Christlike character and godliness, likeness to God, reaching for all that is good and pure and noble and elevated. It is pursued with earnest effort without treating past attainments as completion, by reaching forward to greater knowledge of Jesus, for beholding Him changes the believer into His likeness step by step. Pressing means dying to self and seeking growth toward perfection of Christian character in Christ, attaining His wisdom and righteousness rather than resting, with each step of progress preparing the soul for further growth. This advancing means seeking, watching and praying for purity of heart, overcoming human infirmity in and through the strength of Jesus, having the heart made one with Christ to express His image and glorify Him and create a fragrant atmosphere around the soul, a course by which even the least of saints can obtain preparedness to stand before the Son of man at His appearing.
Such continual pursuing contrasts with boastful claims to be without sin or to be already holy, saved and perfect. Paul had not yet attained the goal but left past achievements behind, reached forward, and strove to know Christ, share His sufferings and attain the resurrection, and the faithfulness of his life gives weight to his exhortation. Even after a purified character appears, the person has not already attained perfection but continues to follow after it, leaving the past behind and reaching toward what lies ahead. Those who have not already attained and are not now perfect need a more earnest hold on heavenly things and the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, until the life demonstrates purification, walking humbly, growing in grace and knowledge, looking to Jesus to be changed from glory to glory, abiding in Christ to reveal perfection of character and be made perfect in one, putting on Christ and revealing the righteousness of God by faith, since of self nothing can be done and sins cannot be atoned for.
The pursuit demands complete surrender and forsaking of perversity, for confession without surrender is not enough, and while believers remain unsurrendered power cannot be manifested to bless them. Moving toward the calling requires being emptied of all self and filled with the Holy Spirit, made obedient children sanctified through obedience to the truth by Christ's death and cleansed from selfish littleness, with personal surrender and control by the Spirit, conformity to God's image, representation of the beauty of holiness, and perfecting of Christlike character without which no one enters heaven, received by trusting striving and then made known by good works that glorify the Father. Failure to press forward leaves too much room for self, while pressing forward is done under the special direction of the Spirit, giving God all powers of mind and being to be conformed to Him in will, temper, spirit and meditations, in implicit faith moving daily under God's mighty working power, trusting less to human ideas and wisdom, enjoying by living union the virtue of His mediation as crucified, dead and risen with Christ to walk in newness of life, whose fruit is quietness and assurance forever. Reaching the goal requires the sanctification of the Spirit and the truth that makes people steadfast in faith and workers together with God, persevering in duty, becoming one with Christ, and growing in understanding as they advance in knowledge, putting all energy into the work with intense desire for God and fixed purpose to conform wholly to His will.
Each step upward on the ladder of progress prepares for climbing still higher, with self not woven into the life and each message of correction, warning and counsel received as a blessing from God so the way is prepared for still greater blessings, until the bright beams of glory shine from the top. Thoughts are brought into captivity to Christ and the life united with Him, the soul filled with the love of God, going forward and upward from strength to strength to attain the wisdom and righteousness of Christ without thinking of resting, a growth made possible by Christ and not by human ability. The humility that bears this fruit speaks for the soul in the great day when all are rewarded according to works, with the commendation that the Spirit never stirred in vain. This pressing experience everyone who is saved must have to reveal Christ, for in the judgment the course of one who retains frailty and imperfection will not be vindicated and will have no place in heaven because he could not enjoy the perfection of the saints in light, and he who has not sufficient faith to believe Christ can keep him from sinning has not the faith that gives entrance into the kingdom.
Prize and Calling Described
The prize is eternal life in the kingdom of glory, to be gained only by a lifelong race and struggle in which grace is arrayed against nature and self must be overcome. It is an incorruptible crown and an incorruptible inheritance that does not fade, whose title is secured forever, with the promise of present life and of life to come for those who accept Christ and owe Him entire allegiance. Those who share Christ's self-sacrifice in this life will share its benefits in immortal life if they remain steadfast to the end, even to seeing God's face, and the reward is not to be expected in this life nor does it consist in earthly riches or honor. The conflict demands pressing on in self-denial on a path lined with crosses, moving ever forward and not backward, gaining sure victories without growing weary in well doing, in strife and eternal vigilance, looking to Jesus as Author and Finisher of faith who was tempted in all points yet without sin. The battle is the Lord's, and co-workers with Him gain perfect victory by cheerfully lifting Christ's cross and continuing the fight of faith through hardship and sacrifice without waiting for obstacles to be removed or conditions to become easy.
The high calling is a mark of character to come up to, a character the Lord can accept, formed day by day in preparation to meet Christ when He comes in the clouds of heaven. It includes sanctification, which is God's will, purifying the self as He is pure — pure in the human sphere as God is pure in His sphere — confessing Christ in conduct, thoughts, faculties and everything, without spot or disloyal conduct, and living a righteousness that reveals the Saviour to a watching world, angels and men. It is the highest education and an exaltation above all earthly honors, opening the way to the heavenly city, with the goal of life with Christ, change to His image, and His presence forever through claiming God's promises in consecration. That standard can be reached through Christ's grace and strength, for in the gift of His Son all heaven is given to honor with eternal life, and full provision is made in Christ for revealing God's love in word, act and disposition so others are won to allegiance and inquire after the Saviour's joy and peace. Pressing toward it requires letting nothing hinder, keeping the Word which is Spirit and life, being of good courage, enduring trial a little longer, making the best use of time, giving special attention to devotion, praying as never before, and drawing nigh to God on His promise to draw nigh to all who seek Him diligently.
The calling includes working with God not only for one's own salvation but for the salvation of others, following Jesus through difficult duties, self-denial and cross-bearing as partners in the plan of redemption. Those united with Christ in this work will share eternal glory, and concern for other souls gives Christian character breadth, depth and stability. Believers press toward the goal by doing good, leaving comfortable places to serve where truth has not reached, seeking to save at least one soul and if possible many more, through toil, self-denial and sacrifice with Christ in which God makes them chief helpers. This sacred work, given also to medical workers together, is understood ever more clearly by esteeming and loving one another, placing upon brethren the value Christ placed upon them, and identifying interest with humanity as He did, in a sacred brotherhood of courtesy, kindness, tenderness, consideration and love, with God's law as standard and His love as motive. A realizing sense of it keeps the heart free from envy, jealousy, selfishness, evil surmising, evil speaking and temporal entanglements of homes, property and interests that curse the work, retard its noblest conceptions and dishearten sowers of truth, while cleansed hearts and ennobled characters with right conceptions of God send forth holy influence, manifest the guarding presence of angels, and inspire trust.
Heaven is worth every sacrifice and effort, so the believer must keep striving and lay hold on God who still loves. Eternal life may be possessed, but it is worth a lifelong, persevering, untiring effort, pressed for with forward, determined devotion that prizes Jesus far above every earthly thing, giving God the whole heart, soul and affections with no divided heart and no idol. Each victory in the struggle against sin advances toward heaven, and failure is no reason to give up but to try again, trusting the Redeemer's compassion and knowledge of human weakness. Devotion to worldly interests and treasure can eclipse the beauty and glory of heaven and must be turned from, laying hold on the hope set before in the gospel, laboring together with God as brave soldiers enduring hardness, laying spiritual sacrifices on His altar as the Spirit helps infirmities, in response to Jesus' self-denial that brought all eternal riches within reach and cleanses the soul temple from defilement for those who lay aside idols.
The hope of the better, heavenly inheritance is to shape the aims of education. The object of true higher education and the test of all education is whether it puts a person in right relation to God and fits the mind to stay fixed on the mark for the prize of the high calling. That fixed aim belongs to preparing for future immortal life, helped by learning to treat the body carefully to maintain strength and clearness of mind and thus escape the evils in the world through lust. Fitness for acceptable service does not come from a long course under learned teachers in worldly schools to secure what the world calls essential knowledge, nor from keeping the mind always on books, nor from spending all time acquiring so-called higher education.
Persevering Effort Required
The life is a race, a battle and a march with no release, calling for patient, persevering effort with every power taxed to become all that grace designs. It is run with patience to gain the crown of life, striving lawfully, laying aside every weight and besetting sin, and fighting the good fight to maintain victory over temptation. This pressing is unceasing endeavor with determined energy and resolute fixedness of purpose, moving steadily and earnestly with the whole being devoted to obedience and with eyes fixed on Jesus, while no one hinders another from running.
Human effort is necessary, yet God supplies the efficiency and power that make it effective. Pressing is done not in human strength but in Christ's strength, through dependence on Christ as Counsellor and Saviour, with reverence for God and without self-congratulation over supposed virtue or present piety. It advances every day in humility, consecration and unreserved surrender, learning from Christ in meekness and lowliness without vanity, keeping the sense of the higher life and urging the way through difficulties with eyes fixed on Him as Leader. It seeks a life measuring with the life of God, growing in grace, spiritual knowledge and intelligence with no excuse for unbelief or dwarfed spirituality, because every provision has been made without limit in Christ.
Pressing expresses singleness of purpose and wholehearted, unwavering devotion to God, which is the condition of enlightenment. It is the language of the heart when all compromise with sin is at an end and real piety begins, with sincere purpose to discern truth and obey it at whatever cost, forgetting what is behind and reaching for what is before. It turns squarely from a divided, double-minded heart buried in business and the cares of this life to full consecration, ceasing lightness and trifling and bearing the solemn weight of the time till the war is over. That consecration governs plans and conduct, refuses diversion by attractive distractions, ambitious projects or self-interest, keeps the eye fixed on God's glory, and works the good and holy works of Christ for the good of others and the salvation of souls.
Forgetting what is behind means not holding the mind back with past experiences, mistakes or failures, for with God's help they can be overcome and need not prevent rising above them. It means not keeping fresh the memory of dark chapters by repetition, forgetting when wronged and when meeting insult and abuse, and ceasing to dwell on forgiven wrongs so that faith is not weakened. It means ceasing fretting, murmuring and faultfinding, trusting the work to the Lord for wisdom and guidance instead of planning in own strength, and going forward doing the work with fidelity. It cultivates only thoughts and feelings that produce gratitude and praise, thinking of mercy, loving-kindness and the love of Jesus, storing the mind with precious promises, repeating them in communion with God, and keeping the language of the soul that of joy and gratitude, which brings rest.
Believers press steadily toward the high calling despite disappointment, lack of help, burdens, shadows, turmoil and grievous afflictions, keeping forward and upward in faith and duty rather than becoming discouraged. Afflictions are allowed to become instructive lessons that drive progress, with faith piercing every cloud of darkness to behold Christ who died for sin, opened Paradise to believers, and gives power to become sons and daughters of God. This endurance is encouraged and gladdened by the hope that the Lord is soon to come, and when courage or burden seems to fade, light and courage from Jesus can grow stronger if encouraged, for such discouragement does not mean the Lord has left.
The path is one of self-denial lined with crosses, pressed step by step forward and not backward in strife and eternal vigilance, never laying aside the spiritual armor. It seeks piety and moral excellence day by day, lifting life above selfishness and sensuality toward perfection in Christ and the hope of immortality. It gains victory over self with control of the body and appetites and passions subdued, leading to a sanctified, refined, purified and ennobled character and at last to the immortal reward and a share of Christ's throne through clinging to the Redeemer.
Runners keep moving straight toward the goal without turning to the right or the left, making straight paths and refusing to turn back onto Satan's ground after humbling before God and coming into right relation with Him. They do not let what others think or accuse turn them from duty, nor let unbelief, hesitation or personal convenience hinder the work. Satan will assail them as they advance, and seeks in last-day perils to confuse, deceive and draw them into his nets, but One mightier than Satan is with them and fights for them, and Christ's power is theirs for pressing forward. Laying aside all malice and guile belongs to this pressing on, especially for teachers and leaders who must be free from them to receive the precious things of the Word, and those who persevere receive God's approval, His blessing, and the help of angels.
Daily and Final Application
Ministers and missionaries are to keep reaching higher and still higher in grace and in knowledge of Jesus rather than by self-assertion, self-assumption and self-confidence, keeping faithful watch over self so talents awaken the lost instead of hurting and destroying, refusing contentment with natural ways and habits or with having left first love, advancing into new fields depending on the Holy Spirit with wholehearted giving to the gospel, constantly asking what they are and what they ought to be and do, recognizing they cannot give what they do not possess, pursuing constant reformation, unceasing advancement, higher attainments and continual improvement of manners and habits toward a symmetrical well-rounded character that does not hinder fellow workers, and diligently using abilities without faltering. The same continual progress applies to missionary workers improving rather than settling into fixed habits and developing what they hope to give others.
Pressing is the lifework done with undivided heart that values blessings, cherishes no idol, lets elevated holy truth sanctify life into a separate peculiar character, obeys and devotes according to light and privileges, walks as children of light from the settled first principle of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and goes from light to still greater light to become better men and women, while failure leaves warnings only temporary and brings coldness, hardness and palsied energies, with all judged by light as with Capernaum exalted in privilege. It is faithfully performing small everyday duties, working with God to resist Satan's mastery and to care for and train entrusted children rather than letting cares distract, constantly serving God and practicing righteousness in business as well as home including education of children with no neutral ground, not teaching children by example to break God's laws nor using the Lord's money to sustain them in evil, which God cannot bless. Keeping the mark ever before means living with immortal life in view, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, and representing Him in home life through private daily struggle with self, control of passions, cleanness of purpose, purity of thought, patience, meekness and longsuffering under provocation, piety, devotion, holy faith and trust, faithfulness in little things and right family management, a hidden faithfulness God values so highly that resisted temptation, humility, repentance and unselfish devotion known only to Him and angels can make such a one more precious and higher in heaven's record than the tried missionary or dying martyr.
Growth is pursued by not resting satisfied with present position or attainments but growing day by day in grace and knowledge of truth, examining nearness to God, using time, talents and every faculty to do God's will and advance His glory through Scripture study, prayer for the Spirit, watching, working, exercising faith so it increases, staying active in Christ's school, wisely improving opportunities and talents, and using every opportunity to become more useful in service with consecration marked by holiness and greater fervency and zeal while humbly seeking a place among God's people. Valuing the heavenly prize gives earnestness and vigor while neglecting heavenly things leaves the race slow and languid, and meditation, Scripture study and prayer turn the heart heavenward to strengthen pursuit of the reward.
Striving is done alongside others in unity by the same rule, leaving behind and reaching ahead in advancing God's work together, aiming as high as possible by Christ's grace while following His example in humility rather than selfish ambition to be honored above others, loving one another, living worthily of the calling in Christ's strength through steadfast shared effort that does not lose the crown, examining self rather than faultfinding and living up to profession as God's chosen faithful people. It is not selfish enjoyment of heavenly things but active progress to be encouraged in others by grasping divine instruction from the Lord's teachings to speak refined elevated ennobling words that encourage the weak in faith and flash light on difficult seemingly insurmountable paths, urging one another toward the goal with spiritual understanding.
Keeping eyes on the heavenly prize and praising God brings joy in heaven, while losing heart, refusing comfort, or straying from the narrow path brings sorrow to watching angels. Each saint pressing toward the prize has an attending angel sent to encourage, watch over and keep him in the way, with angels bearing glad tidings and singing Alleluia to harps. The advent path is straight and narrow set high above the world to the city, with Jesus the mark just before leading and encouraging, the bright light of the midnight cry set up behind at its beginning shining all along to give light for the feet, weariness at the distance met by Jesus raising His glorious right arm with light waving over the band bringing shouts of Alleluia, but rashly denying that leading light puts it out, leaves feet in perfect darkness to stumble, lose sight of Jesus the mark, and fall off into the dark wicked world below.
Doing God's work diligently with holy faith and hope means running not uncertainly nor fighting as beating the air, holding fast profession of faith firm to the end without losing heart, courage or faith when entangled and hard to adjust, looking up because treasure is laid on high, looking to the light and rejoicing in hope of God's glory, closing the heart against doubt, unbelief, darkness and discouragement, remaining firm in duty and religious practice despite ridicule, persevering earnestly to seek eternal riches through Christ, and continuing with patience after doing God's will until through Christ the end of the journey, promise and reward are reached.
The mind is to stay fixed on God's high calling and its prize, for a glimpse of light is not its fullness and without steady focus and earnest effort light fades and doubts take hold. Fixing the soul on Christ's purity, glory and love pushes away sensual thoughts and sustains faith through affliction, makes self sink into insignificance, and with Jesus' strength enables growth in grace, heavier conflicts faced, clearer views of heavenly things, rising higher as copying His example increases understanding of His loveliness, while worldly worries and cherished sins hinder highest attainment. It means keeping faith from sinking into Satan's dark shadow and pressing upward beyond it into God's light as an eagle in cloud and fog presses straight through until above into light rather than flying distracted or waiting to see, when Satan tries to eclipse God's rays, with Christ's life in the heart making oneness in united action, living active faith taking God at His Word which He gives to those who will have it, refusing discouragement and getting rid of unbelief in thought, word and act because the time has come to put on beautiful garments.
The high calling is the goal kept before all rather than ambitious projects or self-serving aims, directing life to serve the Master and do as much good as possible, with the definite highest aim of taking the gospel to the world in this generation open to every touched heart, carrying forward a vast holy work and upholding God's standard before world and heaven by the Lord's power, pursuing faithful worthy work through daily victories and self-control by watchfulness and sincere prayer, remembering sonship, heirship with Christ and co-workership with heaven to resist offense and dwelling on self under trial.
Believers are to wake up, attain the calling through Christ, and consecrate unreservedly, for the church has not pressed as it should and is not what God designs. Reaching it by resisting evil, choosing good, seeking God humbly, standing on eternal truth, repenting and being converted, and laying hold by faith on prepared attainments brings healing and restores simplicity and purity free from earthly entanglements to represent God as His chosen pleasant portion, precious in His sight and made free indeed.
Pressing is joined with earnest repentance from sin and idolatry unto self-denial, humble self-sacrifice, separation from the world and its affections and lusts, daily growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus, overcoming defects of character rather than self-assertion or confidence in human ability, and heeding warnings and instruction. Attaining the condition God designs requires awaking, putting away every wrong, confessing every secret sin to God, afflicting the soul before Him, investigating motives of every action under His all-searching eye, thorough work, entire consecration, full surrender of all, and new conversion and transformation of mind, under great privileges and great light.
Believers must not rest satisfied with present position or past glimpses of divine light and love but daily surrender, walk in given light while expecting clearer light, examine nearness to God, and hold fast progress lest unbelief or neglect undo blessings, for all are responsible for light revealed past and present, the Saviour's light never exhausted but shining steadily and growing brighter amid moral darkness until the perfect day.
The aim is set high with earnest desire and fixed purpose to honor God, pursuing the calling that includes growing to full stature in Christ through sanctification, putting all energies into His work, persevering in faith, humility and sincerity, consecrating mind and body to honor Him in word and deed, with constant watchfulness unto decisive victories, contrary to indifference and self-satisfaction. The true penitent admits he has not already attained perfection and presses toward perfection of character, constantly guarded against a corrupt heart, resisting self-glorification, enduring test in humility with heavenly kindness, charity, patience, forgiveness of supposed injuries and contrition.
The calling is pursued with Christ as everything, choosing Him as saving portion and allowing nothing between soul and God. Advancing means faithfully learning from Christ and bringing the divine pattern into daily life to form a character like His, keeping eyes fixed on Jesus and His character as the mark, living on the plan of addition by adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity to faith, growing daily so as not to remain as yesterday, using God-given abilities and ever receiving spiritual life and power in faith and knowledge of Christ while pressing heavenward.
Pressing requires turning from worldly inclinations and love of earthly things that injure experience, cloud the heavenly view and block growth, arousing to close windows earthward and open them heavenward in preparedness for immortal life as earth's history nears its end, discontinuing foolish cheap conversation, meditating with mind and heart on divine things, gaining most profitable education in heaven's language, and praising God with heart, soul and voice. Believers persevere in faith wholly on the Lord's side through difficulties toward the goal, steadily moving forward and upward in faith and service, standing against darkness rather than letting opposition halt God's work, faithfully enduring trials to overcome, holding fast, growing stronger in truth, relying on God's unfailing strength through affliction, and remaining valiant with courage for eternal glory.
Walking in light means beholding Christ the Pattern, leaving the past, reaching forward in earnest effort, actively striving to reflect Him in sweetness of character and grow in maturity rather than merely claiming to be God's child. Pressing calls for walking carefully with God while resisting worldly ways and busy activities. Reaching the mark means confessing every sin, helping others by example to confess, cherishing faith working by love to purify the soul, staying alert and never standing still or turning back in continual progress.
The heavenward way is a forward pursuit not dwelling on the past, taking opportunities to be more useful in God's service, giving self to Jesus to live His life, holding life as a talent to improve and double in service, with consecration marked by holiness. A spotless character precious as the gold of Ophir is formed by lifetime individual effort, not inherited, bought, wished, dreamed, sighed for, or done by friends, but by keeping the standard high and pressing with indomitable energy through daily stern resistance to temptation, prayerful meditation united with grand purpose, climbing with girded mind and strong will in wise use of talents and opportunities unto God's approval and blessing to society, step by step even through painful self-denial and sacrifice where determination turns circumstances into aids and barriers are overcome.
Pressing answers Christ's call to a higher nobler life and completeness of character by keeping close to Jesus and fighting sin in trust not unbelief, for one who has sinned and fallen many times yet loves Jesus, has been reached and saved, told Him all mistakes with shame and sorrow for dishonoring Him, looked to the cross and His sufferings, been shown ingratitude and open shame by the Spirit, and been forgiven by Him who knows no sin, without excuse for unbelief, weakness, discouragement, feeble prayers or yielding. Believers keep pressing steadily upward in God's work, standing firmly against Satan's efforts to enslave and destroy souls.
The calling is pursued with perseverance, seeking the Spirit and conviction of sin, depending on God rather than prejudice, argument or human strength, growing in grace, understanding His will, improving in character and usefulness unto spotless robes and everlasting victory before the throne, keeping eyes on the goal prepared to meet the Redeemer without risking sin, receiving wisdom, strength, power in prayer and speech and overcoming power bringing victory through Christ. Progress is undeviating with eye fixed on Jesus and ambition directed to the Creator's glory so customs and opinions do not turn aside, overcoming rebellion by grace, giving life to active service, enduring self-denial and sacrifice with determination, rejecting joking and trifling about sacred things, keeping eyes on goal and reward in faith, hope and courage to gain daily victories with patience and kindness, revealing reliance on Him who gave His life for everlasting life, drawing by living faith on God's power for complete triumph over Satan and sin, extending the cross's triumphs without failure or discouragement in cheerful hopeful pure-hearted words for truth that make angels rejoice, moving steadily forward while resisting darkness toward the prize.
The high calling once prone to be lost sight of is to be held fast, with strength of character shown in words and actions through dying to self and living to Christ who gives abundant life, where self given too much room with lacking faith, love and mutual trust through self-admiration hinders pressing and understanding of Scripture. Believers press onward and upward in faithful progress until finished, and reaching the mark brings the Lord's protecting arm and shelter from the storm, requiring waking, recognizing wrong, seeking meaning in calamity and loss, refusing empty presumption, mourning sin in heart as well as outward sign, and keeping God's law with its principles in the home.
Pressing means humbling self at the foot of the cross rather than trusting ability, seeing less self-sufficiency the nearer the cross. It carries through earth's closing scenes to victory and the unfading crown by redeeming time from things seen and temporal to meditate on things unseen and eternal, resisting an encroaching world that would separate from strength, putting on Christ, living in closest communion with Him who sees in secret, laying hold by faith on His might, making peace with Him, in consecration and conformity to His will with time set aside to seek strength.
The course is steady progress toward heaven continually reaching for higher better holier thoughts, feelings and practices amid mental struggles where only God helps, keeping the immortal prize and high calling with its prize continually in view beyond present trials under Christ's yoke, guided in willing obedience by God's commands unto righteousness, joy and peace through the Spirit wherein crosses become crowns. The prize is reached by planting feet firmly on the Word with decided faith saying I believe and will believe, sweeping away hindrances and allowing nothing between soul and God, applying truth to life rather than mere theory or faultless creed with godless life, becoming one with Christ and made free indeed from sin's reign and darkness, thinking and acting intelligently in continual progression and strong aggressive growth in grace under mission from God each must fulfill.
Pressing to God's set standard with life and immortality before is done by faith in Jesus and cultivated trust, doing one's best daily with promise of enablement for better each day, learning from Christ to bless one another, bearing inconveniences uncomplainingly, singing, praying in faith with thanksgiving, making one another happy, being pleasant to strengthen best traits, throwing soul-windows wide heavenward to Christ's righteousness so divine light fills the heart morning, noon and night, refusing worry, fainting and stumbling in unbelief with short time left, working as before heaven's universe, looking to God as sufficiency, striving to be complete in Him, grasping promises, depending on Christ as personal abiding Saviour, seeking fullness of His character, living truth, letting God's glory be revealed without wavering between progress and retreat. Gaining the prize requires steady forward upward purpose holding firmly to God amid competing influences that endanger the aim, and the calling in Christ is a precious privilege enjoyed through communion with God.
Defective traits contracted in youth can be improved and lifelong unsettled mind overcome unto higher usefulness and perfection like Paul, by laboring in God's sacred work carefully with system, regularity and thoroughness, doing one thing at a time to completion, and by improving efficiency. Commandment-keepers keep obeying and witnessing even when haters of God's law enforce human laws, condemn them and attack with proud noise, their watchful piety unfrightened, seeing by faith the crown of life for overcomers as they move steadily as victors toward the calling. The high calling is the calling to be God's children, the highest vocation, where receivers of Christ dead to the world and no longer their own consecrate mind, body, whole future and every hour to service relying on the Redeemer's righteousness and power, seeking completeness and consistency not commonplace profession by daily consecration yielding will and way to God, since selfish use reaps an unwanted harvest.
Travelers on the narrow path to everlasting life keep the mark and prize ever in sight, beginning with faith along a way lined with light, peace and joy of willing obedience where apparent crosses prove crowns because His commands are righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit, pressing with courage and perseverance sustained by hope of soon receiving eternal glory toward the kingdom. The mark is living Christ's life below and revealing God's character to a sin-sunken world by faithfully using, exercising and developing entrusted abilities and doubling life's talent in service, with God's provision for reaching it in continual upward progress, and those not living that life fail to reach it. It is not reached by Jewish learning, Greek eloquence or physical strength but by heart-reception of pure gospel principles, while convicting converting power comes from the Holy Spirit not human ability to honor God and win souls.
The heavenly goal is life with Christ, change to His image and eternal presence, pursued heavenward claiming promises in consecration, steadily overcoming sin and forming truth-purified character in Christ's strength, living worthily through His strength, giving up every idol and defiling appetite, watching with eyes on Jesus until reflecting Him through suffering with Him to share His glory, pursuing pure noble life with love to Jesus not sensual improper affections, examining self rather than faultfinding, and continuing education in teaching youth to higher genuine standards. The race is focused with whole self put in, leaving the past, laying aside every weight and besetting sin, running with patience unto success in service with Spirit earnestness in a living message, giving all of life to the work with growing love for Christ accompanied by conversion of souls, refusing mere belief for seeking light and power to save others as soldiers with eyes on the Author of salvation far from evil as tents far from Sodom, eyes fixed on the mark and uplifted to join heaven in saving a ruined world and extending the cross's triumphs without failing or discouragement, doubly guarded where many can be helped, enduring perplexities and avoiding careless misinterpreted action.
Pressing means surrendering powers, talents and affections to God and living by faith in connection with Jesus who works within and fits for eternal life, fixing eyes on Him, valuing heaven above all, cleansing every idol to grow to full stature, steadfast true as steel to principle, going forth in His strength of love and principle in unrelapsing undeviating activity to advance God's work for His glory with church welfare and fellow men's good as purpose, bringing daily from the soul's treasure things new and old most precious and communicating what is good and lovely, directed by God's finger, defended by providence, upheld by the Spirit, walking unitedly securely in duty's straight line of safety with eye single fixed on the Author and Finisher of salvation amid tempests, catching the Sun of Righteousness's beams in new songs of praise. Those not yet attained need continuing purification shown by pressing with earnest hold on heavenly things and faith working by love to purify the soul, tested in probation by opportunity to obey truth with grace to resist moral evil and accountability to show heavenward movement, not passive listless resistance, advancing intellectually and spiritually as Scripture understood by prayer and the Spirit draws heavenward and strengthens faculties, advancing from victory to victory despite unfair treatment and discouragement, advancing in faith despite temptation while walking humbly relying on Jesus, holding firmly to right godly purposes rather than impulse or show in steady movement where duty, industry and virtuous self-denial bring true happiness, laying aside perplexities others should carry, standing in appointed place, preserving health for soul-winning by pen and voice, trusting God to sustain and make fruitful, and as those accepted in Christ's sacrifice claiming promises to glorify Him, with sanctification by Spirit and truth making steadfast workers one with Christ.
To press toward the mark means to keep moving forward without resting as though the goal were reached, forgetting what lies behind, reaching for what lies ahead, and advancing step by step until the race is run and the victory is gained. Paul confesses that he has not already attained or become perfect, but continues to follow after what Christ called him to grasp. The mark is the goal and the prize is God's high calling in Christ Jesus, which comes from God in Christ and includes the righteousness of Christ and eternal life in the kingdom of glory. Sanctification is progressive and the work of a lifetime, not of a day, going from strength to strength toward perfection and the full stature of Christ in Christlike character. This life is a race and battle requiring patient persevering effort with singleness of purpose, yet done in Christ's strength and not human strength by daily surrender and dependence on Him.
Wording and Original Setting
The words did not originate in a human mind but were declared in vision to Paul, to whom many revelations were given. They are recorded for the benefit of all who desire to be sincere, earnest, wholehearted in obedience to all divine requirements. They declare fundamental principles of the law that states the whole duty of man. The Christian life they present is a pressing toward the goal and the prize of God's calling in Christ, belonging to a call to wholehearted obedience.
To press means to keep moving forward rather than resting as though the goal has already been reached. It means leaving the past behind, reaching toward what lies ahead, and continuing to follow Christ toward the prize of God's high calling in Christ Jesus. It is persevering, patient effort in the race, advancing step by step until the race is run and victory is gained. Past mistakes and failures need not hold the runner back, for with God's help they can be overcome. The mark is the goal of that high calling, and the prize is gained through steadfast continuance in well-doing, a motto to remember while keeping the mind on the Saviour and facing trials.
The mark is the goal and the prize is God's high calling in Christ Jesus. That high calling comes from God in Christ, and as the coming of Christ approaches there is to be advance in piety, zeal, and understanding of it. The prize is the righteousness of Christ, which each person is to strive to attain by taking on Christ's mind, walking and working as He did, in constant self-denial and daily service to others. Reaching the mark involves fixing the eyes on the goal and determinedly continuing to know the Lord more perfectly, faithfully using and developing entrusted abilities in service and revealing a character like His, for those who do not live Christ's life fail to reach it.
Paul does not count himself to have already apprehended, attained, or become perfect, but makes it his one practice to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead while pressing toward the mark. He continues to follow after what Christ called him to grasp, pursuing the holiness and spiritual maturity he urges on others, striving to know Christ, share His sufferings, be conformed to His death, and attain the resurrection. Even after a purified character appears, and even for an apostle who had received extraordinary spiritual experiences, perfection has not yet been attained but is still followed after amid conflict with the powers of darkness, with victories gained and eyes fixed on the prize rather than any claim to be already holy. This modest confession contrasts with boastful claims to be without sin, and the faithfulness of his life gives weight to his exhortation, even while weighed down with responsibilities and torn between living to help others in the flesh and laying down his conflict in death.
Those who are thus minded to keep striving are called perfect, and if anyone is otherwise minded God will reveal correction to them. Therefore those who press toward God's calling in Christ have the promise that they will not be left to grope in doubt and perplexity. Where they have attained they are to walk by the same rule and mind the same thing, following together faithful example and marking those who walk so. This pressing belongs to a heavenly citizenship that looks for the Saviour to change the lowly body to be like His glorious body, standing fast in watchful readiness for His coming, with weeping warning to give no encouragement to enemies of the cross who mind earthly things and whose end is destruction.
Paul's Faithful Example
Paul's great purpose was to remain faithful to Christ and press toward the prize of God's calling in Christ Jesus, with exalting the cross inspiring all his words and actions. Amid many journeys from city to city and country to country preaching and telling the story of the cross, winning converts and establishing churches, carrying constant care and heavy burdens to correct errors and help the churches in difficulty, writing letters of instruction, and at times working with his hands as a tentmaker to earn daily bread, nothing was allowed to divert that one ruling aim. That pressing meant consecrating himself wholly to God's service to serve Christ and win souls to the Saviour, keeping steadfastly before the mind the aim to be faithful, laying aside every weight and besetting sin, and continuing in God's service despite hardship, difficulty, opposition, persecution and worldly attractions. It required self-denial, vigilance against evil, and overcoming obstacles, because the hope of seeing God's face and gaining eternal life and an incorruptible reward is worth all the effort and sacrifice its attainment demands.
His chief aim was to know Christ, to experience the power of His resurrection, to share in His sufferings and be conformed to His death, in hope of attaining the resurrection. He counted former gain and all things loss in order to win Christ and be found in Him, not with his own righteousness from the law or trusting in his own religious standing, but with the righteousness that comes from God by faith. His conversion turned him from self-trust to devoting his life to serving and honoring Christ and winning people to the Saviour, and this continuing pursuit is the duty of all on the one strait and narrow path to heaven, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, following Christ in everything and conforming life to His teachings with the perfection of Christ ever in view. He did not consider himself to have already attained or become perfect, but kept forgetting what was behind, reaching forward to what lay ahead, and pressing toward the goal.
That pressing is sustained by a constant sense of God's presence constraining the runner to keep the eye ever looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith. When weariness and discouragement arise, courage to press forward comes from looking to Jesus rather than dwelling on one's own weakness or relying on one's own strength. Eyes fixed on Him give power to shape character after the divine pattern, with dependence on grace rather than self-sufficiency, and the grace that begins this work will be crowned with glory in God's kingdom.
Progressive Growth Teaching
Sanctification is progressive, the work of a lifetime rather than of a day, not an instant achievement but a continual pursuit after conversion and peace with God. After finding peace the believer keeps reaching forward, forgetting what lies behind and pressing toward the goal of the high calling in Christ, growing toward perfection and the full stature of Christ. This continuing work goes on through daily effort with no thought of security, a constant warfare in which the small duties of everyday life are faithfully performed so as to be trusted with larger responsibilities and do great good. No one is to take for granted that he is saved, for perfection has not already been attained but is followed after, and these words can be spoken when God's test is stood in the refining purifying process where furnace fires have consumed the dross and the true gold of a purified character appears.
The goal pressed toward is Christlike character and godliness, likeness to God, reaching for all that is good and pure and noble and elevated. It is pursued with earnest effort without treating past attainments as completion, by reaching forward to greater knowledge of Jesus, for beholding Him changes the believer into His likeness step by step. Pressing means dying to self and seeking growth toward perfection of Christian character in Christ, attaining His wisdom and righteousness rather than resting, with each step of progress preparing the soul for further growth. This advancing means seeking, watching and praying for purity of heart, overcoming human infirmity in and through the strength of Jesus, having the heart made one with Christ to express His image and glorify Him and create a fragrant atmosphere around the soul, a course by which even the least of saints can obtain preparedness to stand before the Son of man at His appearing.
Such continual pursuing contrasts with boastful claims to be without sin or to be already holy, saved and perfect. Paul had not yet attained the goal but left past achievements behind, reached forward, and strove to know Christ, share His sufferings and attain the resurrection, and the faithfulness of his life gives weight to his exhortation. Even after a purified character appears, the person has not already attained perfection but continues to follow after it, leaving the past behind and reaching toward what lies ahead. Those who have not already attained and are not now perfect need a more earnest hold on heavenly things and the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, until the life demonstrates purification, walking humbly, growing in grace and knowledge, looking to Jesus to be changed from glory to glory, abiding in Christ to reveal perfection of character and be made perfect in one, putting on Christ and revealing the righteousness of God by faith, since of self nothing can be done and sins cannot be atoned for.
The pursuit demands complete surrender and forsaking of perversity, for confession without surrender is not enough, and while believers remain unsurrendered power cannot be manifested to bless them. Moving toward the calling requires being emptied of all self and filled with the Holy Spirit, made obedient children sanctified through obedience to the truth by Christ's death and cleansed from selfish littleness, with personal surrender and control by the Spirit, conformity to God's image, representation of the beauty of holiness, and perfecting of Christlike character without which no one enters heaven, received by trusting striving and then made known by good works that glorify the Father. Failure to press forward leaves too much room for self, while pressing forward is done under the special direction of the Spirit, giving God all powers of mind and being to be conformed to Him in will, temper, spirit and meditations, in implicit faith moving daily under God's mighty working power, trusting less to human ideas and wisdom, enjoying by living union the virtue of His mediation as crucified, dead and risen with Christ to walk in newness of life, whose fruit is quietness and assurance forever. Reaching the goal requires the sanctification of the Spirit and the truth that makes people steadfast in faith and workers together with God, persevering in duty, becoming one with Christ, and growing in understanding as they advance in knowledge, putting all energy into the work with intense desire for God and fixed purpose to conform wholly to His will.
Each step upward on the ladder of progress prepares for climbing still higher, with self not woven into the life and each message of correction, warning and counsel received as a blessing from God so the way is prepared for still greater blessings, until the bright beams of glory shine from the top. Thoughts are brought into captivity to Christ and the life united with Him, the soul filled with the love of God, going forward and upward from strength to strength to attain the wisdom and righteousness of Christ without thinking of resting, a growth made possible by Christ and not by human ability. The humility that bears this fruit speaks for the soul in the great day when all are rewarded according to works, with the commendation that the Spirit never stirred in vain. This pressing experience everyone who is saved must have to reveal Christ, for in the judgment the course of one who retains frailty and imperfection will not be vindicated and will have no place in heaven because he could not enjoy the perfection of the saints in light, and he who has not sufficient faith to believe Christ can keep him from sinning has not the faith that gives entrance into the kingdom.
Prize and Calling Described
The prize is eternal life in the kingdom of glory, to be gained only by a lifelong race and struggle in which grace is arrayed against nature and self must be overcome. It is an incorruptible crown and an incorruptible inheritance that does not fade, whose title is secured forever, with the promise of present life and of life to come for those who accept Christ and owe Him entire allegiance. Those who share Christ's self-sacrifice in this life will share its benefits in immortal life if they remain steadfast to the end, even to seeing God's face, and the reward is not to be expected in this life nor does it consist in earthly riches or honor. The conflict demands pressing on in self-denial on a path lined with crosses, moving ever forward and not backward, gaining sure victories without growing weary in well doing, in strife and eternal vigilance, looking to Jesus as Author and Finisher of faith who was tempted in all points yet without sin. The battle is the Lord's, and co-workers with Him gain perfect victory by cheerfully lifting Christ's cross and continuing the fight of faith through hardship and sacrifice without waiting for obstacles to be removed or conditions to become easy.
The high calling is a mark of character to come up to, a character the Lord can accept, formed day by day in preparation to meet Christ when He comes in the clouds of heaven. It includes sanctification, which is God's will, purifying the self as He is pure — pure in the human sphere as God is pure in His sphere — confessing Christ in conduct, thoughts, faculties and everything, without spot or disloyal conduct, and living a righteousness that reveals the Saviour to a watching world, angels and men. It is the highest education and an exaltation above all earthly honors, opening the way to the heavenly city, with the goal of life with Christ, change to His image, and His presence forever through claiming God's promises in consecration. That standard can be reached through Christ's grace and strength, for in the gift of His Son all heaven is given to honor with eternal life, and full provision is made in Christ for revealing God's love in word, act and disposition so others are won to allegiance and inquire after the Saviour's joy and peace. Pressing toward it requires letting nothing hinder, keeping the Word which is Spirit and life, being of good courage, enduring trial a little longer, making the best use of time, giving special attention to devotion, praying as never before, and drawing nigh to God on His promise to draw nigh to all who seek Him diligently.
The calling includes working with God not only for one's own salvation but for the salvation of others, following Jesus through difficult duties, self-denial and cross-bearing as partners in the plan of redemption. Those united with Christ in this work will share eternal glory, and concern for other souls gives Christian character breadth, depth and stability. Believers press toward the goal by doing good, leaving comfortable places to serve where truth has not reached, seeking to save at least one soul and if possible many more, through toil, self-denial and sacrifice with Christ in which God makes them chief helpers. This sacred work, given also to medical workers together, is understood ever more clearly by esteeming and loving one another, placing upon brethren the value Christ placed upon them, and identifying interest with humanity as He did, in a sacred brotherhood of courtesy, kindness, tenderness, consideration and love, with God's law as standard and His love as motive. A realizing sense of it keeps the heart free from envy, jealousy, selfishness, evil surmising, evil speaking and temporal entanglements of homes, property and interests that curse the work, retard its noblest conceptions and dishearten sowers of truth, while cleansed hearts and ennobled characters with right conceptions of God send forth holy influence, manifest the guarding presence of angels, and inspire trust.
Heaven is worth every sacrifice and effort, so the believer must keep striving and lay hold on God who still loves. Eternal life may be possessed, but it is worth a lifelong, persevering, untiring effort, pressed for with forward, determined devotion that prizes Jesus far above every earthly thing, giving God the whole heart, soul and affections with no divided heart and no idol. Each victory in the struggle against sin advances toward heaven, and failure is no reason to give up but to try again, trusting the Redeemer's compassion and knowledge of human weakness. Devotion to worldly interests and treasure can eclipse the beauty and glory of heaven and must be turned from, laying hold on the hope set before in the gospel, laboring together with God as brave soldiers enduring hardness, laying spiritual sacrifices on His altar as the Spirit helps infirmities, in response to Jesus' self-denial that brought all eternal riches within reach and cleanses the soul temple from defilement for those who lay aside idols.
The hope of the better, heavenly inheritance is to shape the aims of education. The object of true higher education and the test of all education is whether it puts a person in right relation to God and fits the mind to stay fixed on the mark for the prize of the high calling. That fixed aim belongs to preparing for future immortal life, helped by learning to treat the body carefully to maintain strength and clearness of mind and thus escape the evils in the world through lust. Fitness for acceptable service does not come from a long course under learned teachers in worldly schools to secure what the world calls essential knowledge, nor from keeping the mind always on books, nor from spending all time acquiring so-called higher education.
Persevering Effort Required
The life is a race, a battle and a march with no release, calling for patient, persevering effort with every power taxed to become all that grace designs. It is run with patience to gain the crown of life, striving lawfully, laying aside every weight and besetting sin, and fighting the good fight to maintain victory over temptation. This pressing is unceasing endeavor with determined energy and resolute fixedness of purpose, moving steadily and earnestly with the whole being devoted to obedience and with eyes fixed on Jesus, while no one hinders another from running.
Human effort is necessary, yet God supplies the efficiency and power that make it effective. Pressing is done not in human strength but in Christ's strength, through dependence on Christ as Counsellor and Saviour, with reverence for God and without self-congratulation over supposed virtue or present piety. It advances every day in humility, consecration and unreserved surrender, learning from Christ in meekness and lowliness without vanity, keeping the sense of the higher life and urging the way through difficulties with eyes fixed on Him as Leader. It seeks a life measuring with the life of God, growing in grace, spiritual knowledge and intelligence with no excuse for unbelief or dwarfed spirituality, because every provision has been made without limit in Christ.
Pressing expresses singleness of purpose and wholehearted, unwavering devotion to God, which is the condition of enlightenment. It is the language of the heart when all compromise with sin is at an end and real piety begins, with sincere purpose to discern truth and obey it at whatever cost, forgetting what is behind and reaching for what is before. It turns squarely from a divided, double-minded heart buried in business and the cares of this life to full consecration, ceasing lightness and trifling and bearing the solemn weight of the time till the war is over. That consecration governs plans and conduct, refuses diversion by attractive distractions, ambitious projects or self-interest, keeps the eye fixed on God's glory, and works the good and holy works of Christ for the good of others and the salvation of souls.
Forgetting what is behind means not holding the mind back with past experiences, mistakes or failures, for with God's help they can be overcome and need not prevent rising above them. It means not keeping fresh the memory of dark chapters by repetition, forgetting when wronged and when meeting insult and abuse, and ceasing to dwell on forgiven wrongs so that faith is not weakened. It means ceasing fretting, murmuring and faultfinding, trusting the work to the Lord for wisdom and guidance instead of planning in own strength, and going forward doing the work with fidelity. It cultivates only thoughts and feelings that produce gratitude and praise, thinking of mercy, loving-kindness and the love of Jesus, storing the mind with precious promises, repeating them in communion with God, and keeping the language of the soul that of joy and gratitude, which brings rest.
Believers press steadily toward the high calling despite disappointment, lack of help, burdens, shadows, turmoil and grievous afflictions, keeping forward and upward in faith and duty rather than becoming discouraged. Afflictions are allowed to become instructive lessons that drive progress, with faith piercing every cloud of darkness to behold Christ who died for sin, opened Paradise to believers, and gives power to become sons and daughters of God. This endurance is encouraged and gladdened by the hope that the Lord is soon to come, and when courage or burden seems to fade, light and courage from Jesus can grow stronger if encouraged, for such discouragement does not mean the Lord has left.
The path is one of self-denial lined with crosses, pressed step by step forward and not backward in strife and eternal vigilance, never laying aside the spiritual armor. It seeks piety and moral excellence day by day, lifting life above selfishness and sensuality toward perfection in Christ and the hope of immortality. It gains victory over self with control of the body and appetites and passions subdued, leading to a sanctified, refined, purified and ennobled character and at last to the immortal reward and a share of Christ's throne through clinging to the Redeemer.
Runners keep moving straight toward the goal without turning to the right or the left, making straight paths and refusing to turn back onto Satan's ground after humbling before God and coming into right relation with Him. They do not let what others think or accuse turn them from duty, nor let unbelief, hesitation or personal convenience hinder the work. Satan will assail them as they advance, and seeks in last-day perils to confuse, deceive and draw them into his nets, but One mightier than Satan is with them and fights for them, and Christ's power is theirs for pressing forward. Laying aside all malice and guile belongs to this pressing on, especially for teachers and leaders who must be free from them to receive the precious things of the Word, and those who persevere receive God's approval, His blessing, and the help of angels.
Daily and Final Application
Ministers and missionaries are to keep reaching higher and still higher in grace and in knowledge of Jesus rather than by self-assertion, self-assumption and self-confidence, keeping faithful watch over self so talents awaken the lost instead of hurting and destroying, refusing contentment with natural ways and habits or with having left first love, advancing into new fields depending on the Holy Spirit with wholehearted giving to the gospel, constantly asking what they are and what they ought to be and do, recognizing they cannot give what they do not possess, pursuing constant reformation, unceasing advancement, higher attainments and continual improvement of manners and habits toward a symmetrical well-rounded character that does not hinder fellow workers, and diligently using abilities without faltering. The same continual progress applies to missionary workers improving rather than settling into fixed habits and developing what they hope to give others.
Pressing is the lifework done with undivided heart that values blessings, cherishes no idol, lets elevated holy truth sanctify life into a separate peculiar character, obeys and devotes according to light and privileges, walks as children of light from the settled first principle of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and goes from light to still greater light to become better men and women, while failure leaves warnings only temporary and brings coldness, hardness and palsied energies, with all judged by light as with Capernaum exalted in privilege. It is faithfully performing small everyday duties, working with God to resist Satan's mastery and to care for and train entrusted children rather than letting cares distract, constantly serving God and practicing righteousness in business as well as home including education of children with no neutral ground, not teaching children by example to break God's laws nor using the Lord's money to sustain them in evil, which God cannot bless. Keeping the mark ever before means living with immortal life in view, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, and representing Him in home life through private daily struggle with self, control of passions, cleanness of purpose, purity of thought, patience, meekness and longsuffering under provocation, piety, devotion, holy faith and trust, faithfulness in little things and right family management, a hidden faithfulness God values so highly that resisted temptation, humility, repentance and unselfish devotion known only to Him and angels can make such a one more precious and higher in heaven's record than the tried missionary or dying martyr.
Growth is pursued by not resting satisfied with present position or attainments but growing day by day in grace and knowledge of truth, examining nearness to God, using time, talents and every faculty to do God's will and advance His glory through Scripture study, prayer for the Spirit, watching, working, exercising faith so it increases, staying active in Christ's school, wisely improving opportunities and talents, and using every opportunity to become more useful in service with consecration marked by holiness and greater fervency and zeal while humbly seeking a place among God's people. Valuing the heavenly prize gives earnestness and vigor while neglecting heavenly things leaves the race slow and languid, and meditation, Scripture study and prayer turn the heart heavenward to strengthen pursuit of the reward.
Striving is done alongside others in unity by the same rule, leaving behind and reaching ahead in advancing God's work together, aiming as high as possible by Christ's grace while following His example in humility rather than selfish ambition to be honored above others, loving one another, living worthily of the calling in Christ's strength through steadfast shared effort that does not lose the crown, examining self rather than faultfinding and living up to profession as God's chosen faithful people. It is not selfish enjoyment of heavenly things but active progress to be encouraged in others by grasping divine instruction from the Lord's teachings to speak refined elevated ennobling words that encourage the weak in faith and flash light on difficult seemingly insurmountable paths, urging one another toward the goal with spiritual understanding.
Keeping eyes on the heavenly prize and praising God brings joy in heaven, while losing heart, refusing comfort, or straying from the narrow path brings sorrow to watching angels. Each saint pressing toward the prize has an attending angel sent to encourage, watch over and keep him in the way, with angels bearing glad tidings and singing Alleluia to harps. The advent path is straight and narrow set high above the world to the city, with Jesus the mark just before leading and encouraging, the bright light of the midnight cry set up behind at its beginning shining all along to give light for the feet, weariness at the distance met by Jesus raising His glorious right arm with light waving over the band bringing shouts of Alleluia, but rashly denying that leading light puts it out, leaves feet in perfect darkness to stumble, lose sight of Jesus the mark, and fall off into the dark wicked world below.
Doing God's work diligently with holy faith and hope means running not uncertainly nor fighting as beating the air, holding fast profession of faith firm to the end without losing heart, courage or faith when entangled and hard to adjust, looking up because treasure is laid on high, looking to the light and rejoicing in hope of God's glory, closing the heart against doubt, unbelief, darkness and discouragement, remaining firm in duty and religious practice despite ridicule, persevering earnestly to seek eternal riches through Christ, and continuing with patience after doing God's will until through Christ the end of the journey, promise and reward are reached.
The mind is to stay fixed on God's high calling and its prize, for a glimpse of light is not its fullness and without steady focus and earnest effort light fades and doubts take hold. Fixing the soul on Christ's purity, glory and love pushes away sensual thoughts and sustains faith through affliction, makes self sink into insignificance, and with Jesus' strength enables growth in grace, heavier conflicts faced, clearer views of heavenly things, rising higher as copying His example increases understanding of His loveliness, while worldly worries and cherished sins hinder highest attainment. It means keeping faith from sinking into Satan's dark shadow and pressing upward beyond it into God's light as an eagle in cloud and fog presses straight through until above into light rather than flying distracted or waiting to see, when Satan tries to eclipse God's rays, with Christ's life in the heart making oneness in united action, living active faith taking God at His Word which He gives to those who will have it, refusing discouragement and getting rid of unbelief in thought, word and act because the time has come to put on beautiful garments.
The high calling is the goal kept before all rather than ambitious projects or self-serving aims, directing life to serve the Master and do as much good as possible, with the definite highest aim of taking the gospel to the world in this generation open to every touched heart, carrying forward a vast holy work and upholding God's standard before world and heaven by the Lord's power, pursuing faithful worthy work through daily victories and self-control by watchfulness and sincere prayer, remembering sonship, heirship with Christ and co-workership with heaven to resist offense and dwelling on self under trial.
Believers are to wake up, attain the calling through Christ, and consecrate unreservedly, for the church has not pressed as it should and is not what God designs. Reaching it by resisting evil, choosing good, seeking God humbly, standing on eternal truth, repenting and being converted, and laying hold by faith on prepared attainments brings healing and restores simplicity and purity free from earthly entanglements to represent God as His chosen pleasant portion, precious in His sight and made free indeed.
Pressing is joined with earnest repentance from sin and idolatry unto self-denial, humble self-sacrifice, separation from the world and its affections and lusts, daily growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus, overcoming defects of character rather than self-assertion or confidence in human ability, and heeding warnings and instruction. Attaining the condition God designs requires awaking, putting away every wrong, confessing every secret sin to God, afflicting the soul before Him, investigating motives of every action under His all-searching eye, thorough work, entire consecration, full surrender of all, and new conversion and transformation of mind, under great privileges and great light.
Believers must not rest satisfied with present position or past glimpses of divine light and love but daily surrender, walk in given light while expecting clearer light, examine nearness to God, and hold fast progress lest unbelief or neglect undo blessings, for all are responsible for light revealed past and present, the Saviour's light never exhausted but shining steadily and growing brighter amid moral darkness until the perfect day.
The aim is set high with earnest desire and fixed purpose to honor God, pursuing the calling that includes growing to full stature in Christ through sanctification, putting all energies into His work, persevering in faith, humility and sincerity, consecrating mind and body to honor Him in word and deed, with constant watchfulness unto decisive victories, contrary to indifference and self-satisfaction. The true penitent admits he has not already attained perfection and presses toward perfection of character, constantly guarded against a corrupt heart, resisting self-glorification, enduring test in humility with heavenly kindness, charity, patience, forgiveness of supposed injuries and contrition.
The calling is pursued with Christ as everything, choosing Him as saving portion and allowing nothing between soul and God. Advancing means faithfully learning from Christ and bringing the divine pattern into daily life to form a character like His, keeping eyes fixed on Jesus and His character as the mark, living on the plan of addition by adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity to faith, growing daily so as not to remain as yesterday, using God-given abilities and ever receiving spiritual life and power in faith and knowledge of Christ while pressing heavenward.
Pressing requires turning from worldly inclinations and love of earthly things that injure experience, cloud the heavenly view and block growth, arousing to close windows earthward and open them heavenward in preparedness for immortal life as earth's history nears its end, discontinuing foolish cheap conversation, meditating with mind and heart on divine things, gaining most profitable education in heaven's language, and praising God with heart, soul and voice. Believers persevere in faith wholly on the Lord's side through difficulties toward the goal, steadily moving forward and upward in faith and service, standing against darkness rather than letting opposition halt God's work, faithfully enduring trials to overcome, holding fast, growing stronger in truth, relying on God's unfailing strength through affliction, and remaining valiant with courage for eternal glory.
Walking in light means beholding Christ the Pattern, leaving the past, reaching forward in earnest effort, actively striving to reflect Him in sweetness of character and grow in maturity rather than merely claiming to be God's child. Pressing calls for walking carefully with God while resisting worldly ways and busy activities. Reaching the mark means confessing every sin, helping others by example to confess, cherishing faith working by love to purify the soul, staying alert and never standing still or turning back in continual progress.
The heavenward way is a forward pursuit not dwelling on the past, taking opportunities to be more useful in God's service, giving self to Jesus to live His life, holding life as a talent to improve and double in service, with consecration marked by holiness. A spotless character precious as the gold of Ophir is formed by lifetime individual effort, not inherited, bought, wished, dreamed, sighed for, or done by friends, but by keeping the standard high and pressing with indomitable energy through daily stern resistance to temptation, prayerful meditation united with grand purpose, climbing with girded mind and strong will in wise use of talents and opportunities unto God's approval and blessing to society, step by step even through painful self-denial and sacrifice where determination turns circumstances into aids and barriers are overcome.
Pressing answers Christ's call to a higher nobler life and completeness of character by keeping close to Jesus and fighting sin in trust not unbelief, for one who has sinned and fallen many times yet loves Jesus, has been reached and saved, told Him all mistakes with shame and sorrow for dishonoring Him, looked to the cross and His sufferings, been shown ingratitude and open shame by the Spirit, and been forgiven by Him who knows no sin, without excuse for unbelief, weakness, discouragement, feeble prayers or yielding. Believers keep pressing steadily upward in God's work, standing firmly against Satan's efforts to enslave and destroy souls.
The calling is pursued with perseverance, seeking the Spirit and conviction of sin, depending on God rather than prejudice, argument or human strength, growing in grace, understanding His will, improving in character and usefulness unto spotless robes and everlasting victory before the throne, keeping eyes on the goal prepared to meet the Redeemer without risking sin, receiving wisdom, strength, power in prayer and speech and overcoming power bringing victory through Christ. Progress is undeviating with eye fixed on Jesus and ambition directed to the Creator's glory so customs and opinions do not turn aside, overcoming rebellion by grace, giving life to active service, enduring self-denial and sacrifice with determination, rejecting joking and trifling about sacred things, keeping eyes on goal and reward in faith, hope and courage to gain daily victories with patience and kindness, revealing reliance on Him who gave His life for everlasting life, drawing by living faith on God's power for complete triumph over Satan and sin, extending the cross's triumphs without failure or discouragement in cheerful hopeful pure-hearted words for truth that make angels rejoice, moving steadily forward while resisting darkness toward the prize.
The high calling once prone to be lost sight of is to be held fast, with strength of character shown in words and actions through dying to self and living to Christ who gives abundant life, where self given too much room with lacking faith, love and mutual trust through self-admiration hinders pressing and understanding of Scripture. Believers press onward and upward in faithful progress until finished, and reaching the mark brings the Lord's protecting arm and shelter from the storm, requiring waking, recognizing wrong, seeking meaning in calamity and loss, refusing empty presumption, mourning sin in heart as well as outward sign, and keeping God's law with its principles in the home.
Pressing means humbling self at the foot of the cross rather than trusting ability, seeing less self-sufficiency the nearer the cross. It carries through earth's closing scenes to victory and the unfading crown by redeeming time from things seen and temporal to meditate on things unseen and eternal, resisting an encroaching world that would separate from strength, putting on Christ, living in closest communion with Him who sees in secret, laying hold by faith on His might, making peace with Him, in consecration and conformity to His will with time set aside to seek strength.
The course is steady progress toward heaven continually reaching for higher better holier thoughts, feelings and practices amid mental struggles where only God helps, keeping the immortal prize and high calling with its prize continually in view beyond present trials under Christ's yoke, guided in willing obedience by God's commands unto righteousness, joy and peace through the Spirit wherein crosses become crowns. The prize is reached by planting feet firmly on the Word with decided faith saying I believe and will believe, sweeping away hindrances and allowing nothing between soul and God, applying truth to life rather than mere theory or faultless creed with godless life, becoming one with Christ and made free indeed from sin's reign and darkness, thinking and acting intelligently in continual progression and strong aggressive growth in grace under mission from God each must fulfill.
Pressing to God's set standard with life and immortality before is done by faith in Jesus and cultivated trust, doing one's best daily with promise of enablement for better each day, learning from Christ to bless one another, bearing inconveniences uncomplainingly, singing, praying in faith with thanksgiving, making one another happy, being pleasant to strengthen best traits, throwing soul-windows wide heavenward to Christ's righteousness so divine light fills the heart morning, noon and night, refusing worry, fainting and stumbling in unbelief with short time left, working as before heaven's universe, looking to God as sufficiency, striving to be complete in Him, grasping promises, depending on Christ as personal abiding Saviour, seeking fullness of His character, living truth, letting God's glory be revealed without wavering between progress and retreat. Gaining the prize requires steady forward upward purpose holding firmly to God amid competing influences that endanger the aim, and the calling in Christ is a precious privilege enjoyed through communion with God.
Defective traits contracted in youth can be improved and lifelong unsettled mind overcome unto higher usefulness and perfection like Paul, by laboring in God's sacred work carefully with system, regularity and thoroughness, doing one thing at a time to completion, and by improving efficiency. Commandment-keepers keep obeying and witnessing even when haters of God's law enforce human laws, condemn them and attack with proud noise, their watchful piety unfrightened, seeing by faith the crown of life for overcomers as they move steadily as victors toward the calling. The high calling is the calling to be God's children, the highest vocation, where receivers of Christ dead to the world and no longer their own consecrate mind, body, whole future and every hour to service relying on the Redeemer's righteousness and power, seeking completeness and consistency not commonplace profession by daily consecration yielding will and way to God, since selfish use reaps an unwanted harvest.
Travelers on the narrow path to everlasting life keep the mark and prize ever in sight, beginning with faith along a way lined with light, peace and joy of willing obedience where apparent crosses prove crowns because His commands are righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit, pressing with courage and perseverance sustained by hope of soon receiving eternal glory toward the kingdom. The mark is living Christ's life below and revealing God's character to a sin-sunken world by faithfully using, exercising and developing entrusted abilities and doubling life's talent in service, with God's provision for reaching it in continual upward progress, and those not living that life fail to reach it. It is not reached by Jewish learning, Greek eloquence or physical strength but by heart-reception of pure gospel principles, while convicting converting power comes from the Holy Spirit not human ability to honor God and win souls.
The heavenly goal is life with Christ, change to His image and eternal presence, pursued heavenward claiming promises in consecration, steadily overcoming sin and forming truth-purified character in Christ's strength, living worthily through His strength, giving up every idol and defiling appetite, watching with eyes on Jesus until reflecting Him through suffering with Him to share His glory, pursuing pure noble life with love to Jesus not sensual improper affections, examining self rather than faultfinding, and continuing education in teaching youth to higher genuine standards. The race is focused with whole self put in, leaving the past, laying aside every weight and besetting sin, running with patience unto success in service with Spirit earnestness in a living message, giving all of life to the work with growing love for Christ accompanied by conversion of souls, refusing mere belief for seeking light and power to save others as soldiers with eyes on the Author of salvation far from evil as tents far from Sodom, eyes fixed on the mark and uplifted to join heaven in saving a ruined world and extending the cross's triumphs without failing or discouragement, doubly guarded where many can be helped, enduring perplexities and avoiding careless misinterpreted action.
Pressing means surrendering powers, talents and affections to God and living by faith in connection with Jesus who works within and fits for eternal life, fixing eyes on Him, valuing heaven above all, cleansing every idol to grow to full stature, steadfast true as steel to principle, going forth in His strength of love and principle in unrelapsing undeviating activity to advance God's work for His glory with church welfare and fellow men's good as purpose, bringing daily from the soul's treasure things new and old most precious and communicating what is good and lovely, directed by God's finger, defended by providence, upheld by the Spirit, walking unitedly securely in duty's straight line of safety with eye single fixed on the Author and Finisher of salvation amid tempests, catching the Sun of Righteousness's beams in new songs of praise. Those not yet attained need continuing purification shown by pressing with earnest hold on heavenly things and faith working by love to purify the soul, tested in probation by opportunity to obey truth with grace to resist moral evil and accountability to show heavenward movement, not passive listless resistance, advancing intellectually and spiritually as Scripture understood by prayer and the Spirit draws heavenward and strengthens faculties, advancing from victory to victory despite unfair treatment and discouragement, advancing in faith despite temptation while walking humbly relying on Jesus, holding firmly to right godly purposes rather than impulse or show in steady movement where duty, industry and virtuous self-denial bring true happiness, laying aside perplexities others should carry, standing in appointed place, preserving health for soul-winning by pen and voice, trusting God to sustain and make fruitful, and as those accepted in Christ's sacrifice claiming promises to glorify Him, with sanctification by Spirit and truth making steadfast workers one with Christ.