Press Toward the Goal
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14
The apostle Paul continued to serve the Lord pressing on toward his eternal life. Our life is filled with peace and joy as we serve the Lord because we know our perfect heavenly home awaits us. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:17 ESV) The closer we are to the Lord, the closer we are to Heaven and eternal life with the Father and the Son. Christ fills our hearts with divine blessings as the desires of the world pass away.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) We live in this world serving Christ with our soul in the Kingdom, and our hearts know that Heaven is our home. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) As Satan turns the world against Christians, it makes serving the Lord subject to suffering. We endure because we live in victory and our home is not this world; our home is Heaven.
If there is no eternal life, what is the purpose for ministering to lost souls? The only reason we minster to lost souls is because of eternal life in Heaven. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. (1 John 8:15) We live this life pressing on toward our eternal heavenly home and we don’t see this world as our home.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19) In our hearts, we know this life is temporary and our citizenship is in Heaven. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. (Philippians 3:20 NLT) We live this life knowing we are citizens of Heaven and we eagerly wait for Christ to return and take us home.
Today, continue to press on toward the goal of your eternal life. Knowing eternal life is our reward motivates us to point people to Christ. We are sad for lost souls walking in darkness on the broad road to destruction.
Prayer: Guide me to press on toward eternal life. Guide me to tell others that Christ will guide them down the narrow road to eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.