PRESS ON!

By Rick Mathes

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Our past thoughts, memories, ambitions, standards, ideals and morals all pile up into a mound of horrors if we go back and walk through our despicable life without Christ again. Satan will rub our nose in it all to steal the joy of our salvation away from us. We must turn our back on the devil and press on if we are to keep the faith, fight the good fight and finish this earth experience which lays yet before us and our resurrection day.

If you look back the first demon to confront you is the spirit of pride. I’ve learned that the more I seek the humility of our Lord, the more I discover the pride that still lurks in my self-serving nature that I drag around with me. Satan fell because of it but Christ will overcome it in me by dropping me to my knees in repentance.

The ambitions that swell up in me soon begin to own me. My eyes are constantly going to and fro outward instead of submissively upward to my Lord and Savior. All of hell’s weight attempts to pull them down to linger on the toys in Satan’s playground. I’ve learned that I am never satisfied with the devils counterfeit pleasures.

Forever looking over the fence of that which surrounds my needs extends into infinity with the wants I covet that others have satisfied themselves and I don’t care who the casualty becomes, just get out of my way. I am going to get what you have including your wife. It is only the boundless blessings of Christ in heavenly places that gives me cause to consider how happy I am in my present comfort zone.

As you press on forward in the Lord, you will have new interests, new relations, and new activities. It’s all a matter of pulling up weeds and planting flowers. The whole life experience does a 180 degree turn and you are well on your way.

The laws of physics have proven that pressure on an apparently immoveable object will eventually move. It can’t do otherwise as long as the pressure continues without letup. As long as you press on the future will come upon you and the past will burn to ashes as you turn your back on hell and keep a steady pace toward the throne of God.