“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” (Philippians 3:13,14).

“The past is prologue.” This wise saying is especially significant to the Christian. Regardless of past successes or failures, there are always new needs and opportunities to challenge us to press on. It is even possible that the “high calling” mentioned here is the special call that will bid each of us, either at death or at the second coming of Christ, to come up into His very presence, where each will receive an appropriate award for running the race (Hebrews 12:1)—its character determined not by quantity, but by quality of service, “of what sort it is” (I Corinthians 3:13).

Each new day, each new week, each new month, and year, therefore, should be a time of renewed dedication and determination. There is time for rest later on, but now we must “redeem the time” (Colossians 4:5). “This one thing I do,” said Paul. Actually, there is only one word here in the original—“one thing!” One thought; one concern; one course of action; one motivation. Paul had the “single” eye, of which Christ spoke (Matthew 6:22), and so should we. “To me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Our goal must be, as was that of Paul’s, to “follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). “Apprehend” is used here in the sense of “acquire.”

Shortly after this, Paul could say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith . . . the time of my departure is at hand” (II Timothy 4:6,7). We also have only a few years—it may even be this year! God help us to stretch forward as fervently as we can, for the calling is high, the mark is ahead, and the prize is waiting. HMM