Philippians 3:12-21 Message version
"I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him."
I find that the times we all want to give up or sit out is the moment things are about to change for our benefit. The hardest miles on a run are the first miles, when your body is getting used to the "torture" and the mile before you can see the finish line. BUT, once you set your eyes on the finish line, you forget the pain, you forget the previous miles, and you find yourself captivated by the finish line. But until you see the finish line, you question turning around or sitting out.
Many of us fear the "in between." The distance between the starting point and the finish line. We are comfortable at the starting line because it is familiar. We love the finish line because we feel satisfaction in completing the race. But what will happen "in between?"
"THERE'S FAR MORE TO LIFE FOR US"
This statement "there's far more to life for us" was placed on my heart by God last week. I found myself heart broken by the condition of my life and those I loved. There is so much promised to us as believers that we have yet to tap into, so so so much more! I envisioned Jesus on the cross and all he went through for us to receive our promise of newness. I know He died for more than I life I am living.
Loved ones can I remind you today God has something NEW for you? Let me say it again, God has newness, renewal, fresh starts, hope of beginnings stored up for YOU!
What is it in your life that you feel is dead? What is it in your life that you have lost hope in changing?
Let me speak over those situations and remind you to believe in the NEW.
Many of us are sitting on the bench or at the starting line of the race. We hear the whistle being blown for the start of the game, we hear the shots going off to begin to run, yet we are frozen. Fear freezes us, regret freezes us, complacency freezes us, and previous hurt freezes us.
I am one of the frozen fear mixed in with regret with a large dose of previous hurt mixed in. I have heard the shot go off to start the race and as much as I have trained or been trained up for the moment I stay put with a list of "what ifs" and a fear of the "in between."
A light-hearted example of this is with my first car. I got him for my sixteenth birthday and named him "Trevor." I loved my car, a 1995 Honda Accord. Trevor went with me to college, drove with me to my first post graduate job, he was my getaway car, "taking a drive" car, "no one can hear me cry" space. He was a really great car. You are probably now worried about my obsession with an "object."
I really loved that car. The last two years I have really been in need of a newer car, but my obsession with Trevor always made it difficult. I wanted a "new" car and I wanted to keep my "old" car. I wanted them both! I wanted the benefits of the NEW without letting go of the "OLD"
This is how many of us are as believers. We believe that God has newness for us, He has refreshment and healing for us, but we just cannot let go of the "old." We feel with letting go of the old we are letting go of a part of us.
Some of us don't want to let go of the old because we find entitlement in the old, we feel if we let go of the old people will forget what we went through, or maybe what THEY put us through.
Many of us can't let go of the old because we are scared of the "in between."
Others of us won't let go of the "old" because we have become too comfortable and feel this is what we deserve. Shame is of the enemy, BECAUSE of Christ you are "deserving" He took your place and gave you His place, a deserving place. You are now in Christ, in Christ we find newness.
Isaiah 65:17
"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.
Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
John 3:3
Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
May 28th I bought my "new" car! You should of seen the look on the salesman's face when tears filled my eyes talking about Trevor. I hadn't even signed the papers for the new car yet and hear I am telling this man how good Trevor was and how I will miss him.
Here I was talking about the "old" when the "new" already had my name on it.
The "new" has your name on it! The paper have already been signed by the blood of Jesus, all you have to do is walk into your promise of newness.
My license plate came in for my new car, the plate read something similar to "see ya Trevor." I asked my Dad if he did that, he said it wasn't him.
Isn't that just like our Heavenly Father, reminding us that the present is always better than the past!!!
See you "old" I am ready for the "NEW"
