An Apostolic Commencement Address

Significant events call for deep reflection.  This is especially true for Christians, who never in this life attain to all that they shall be, but recognize a glorious future eternity with God, when perfection will be their very (divine) nature (2 Peter 1:4).  Ending a school year is such an event.  Whether it is only for the summer and you must start a new grade in the fall, or perhaps you have completed high school or college and are about to enter into your life's work, either way the experience you have undergone may be viewed using the metaphor of training for an Olympic event. Training is preparation. The real struggle is yet to come!  Let the Apostle speak to you as he did to the Philippians in Chapter 3, verses 13 and 14:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind, and reaching forth unto those things
which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

One of the first things required of anyone who would want to improve is to know your present position and limitations. There is no deceit like self-deception, so be honest with yourself. Paul said, "I don't reckon I'm there yet."  The idea being that after much thought about his past, and all his accomplishments, his successes and failures, he is forced to draw the conclusion that there is still more to the race set before him.  Perhaps there were those in Philippi who thought they had "arrived", and who boasted of their attainments and achievements, either before salvation or even the victories they had gained in Christ by the mercy of God. Paul knows better. He has as much right as anyone to boast, as Phil. 3:4-7 confirm. It is useless to rest with pride in the middle of a race even if you are in first place - If you will not accept my word for it, I know a hare that raced a tortoise once and has been declared an authority on the subject - wait until the struggle is over.  Paul says that he is not in receipt of everything God has for him. But he is quick to add that he is hot on the trail!  He is in pursuit in order that he may grasp that for which Christ also had a grasp on him. There is no exaggeration here. Nor is there any minimizing of the task. He is after the Ultimate victory, it must not be made to appear cheap or easily secured. There have been obstacles ... there shall be more.  There have been victories ... there shall be infinitely more. 

Paul would advise us that we must practice what I call "Selective Suppression".  Forgetting those things that are behind.  Suppression best describes this forgetting since it is a deliberate exclusion from the consciousness of memories or emotions.  It is Selective because some things need to be remembered ... i.e. Remember Lot's Wife (last month's Trumpeter article).  But dwelling on past failures can hinder or wreck the present successes.  So mark the cause of failure, make the corrections, and move on.  Dwelling on past glories and successes can be equally damaging.  The athlete can be lulled into a false sense of security by depending on personal strengths typified in that same story of the Tortoise and the Hare. So mark the prior acts of God that caused the past glories and move on. 

Paul would next advise us to develop "Sagacious Stamina". "Reaching forth toward those things which are before” Stamina is the physical and moral capacity to endure or withstand hardship or difficulty. It is that quality that we see in a prizefighter in the later rounds of the battle when both men are dead tired and both want to quit. Then, one of them reaches down into that reservoir of stamina and not only holds on, but redoubles the effort and gains the prize. Runners work on this same principle.  Just this morning, before I started this article, Donna and I were on our daily walk on the bike path (See Things that Derek Taught Me) and having reached the place where we normally turn around and head home, I reflected on the times many years before (I mean many years before!) when I was training at Byrd's Boxing facility in Pleasantville in preparation for entering the New Jersey State Police Academy. I would begin running from the gym at Wright Ave. in Pleasantville along the old railroad tracks and run at a jogger's pace some three miles through Northfield and Linwood. By the time I made the turn to head back to the gym I would feel totally exhausted. That was when my trainer would require me to pick up the pace. Every 100 yards on the way back to the gym was to be just a little faster than the one before, so that the last 100 yards or so would be full speed ahead! Amazing how with practice you can call upon this stamina or “second wind” at will.  And when it is the Will of the Lord you are calling upon, nothing can stop you from "running like a deer" Needless to say we doubled our walk today.

Sagacious, hat is "ready and apt to apprehend and to decide on a course." "Characterized by keen discernment, shrewdness and wisdom." Also, "Quick of scent." As one of the qualities of a bloodhound. Another dictionary says "Possessing or showing sound judgment and keen perception...wise." This latter quality is necessary to tame the stamina, and to direct it to the worthy goal. 

In Phil. 3:14, Paul would have us turn our eyes toward Jesus.  He would also have us strain every muscle in pursuit of the prize.  Take note of the Greek word for "I press" in this verse. It is the same word  translated "I follow after" in verse 12. It is also in verse 6 where Paul is said to have "Persecuted" the Church. (see DIOKO)  It means he did all these things with a passion.  He kept his eye on the "mark" (see SKOPOS).  In almost every sport, one must have a goal in sight.  Whether it is the opponents jaw in boxing, the height bar in jumping, the play in baseball or the hoop in basketball. In this case the mark is the goal post of continual progress in Christ, and the prize is Eternal Life. (see I Tim. 6:12).  You have completed one more training session in the gym of preparation.  Like an athlete or a soldier which represent two of Paul's favorite illustrations, one must always be ready for the time when the "practice" is over and the real battle begins. 

Not the end, but the beginning;
Other goals set, for the winning.

                                                                                               Hayden

NOTES:

II Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Philipians 3:4-7  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (See II Cor. 11:22 ff also)

DIOKO     Strong’s # 1377 (dee-o'-ko)  a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio  “to flee”  “to pursue” (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:--ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.

SKOPOS  Strong’s # 4649  (skop-os') from skeptomai (to peer about ("skeptic"); perhaps   through the idea of concealment; a watch (sentry or scout), i.e. (by implication) a goal or mark.