From the Pen of Paul

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

New Year's resolutions, by this time, may have already been tossed aside. However, there is a statement that the apostle Paul made that I would suggest that all of us consider and implement. That statement is found in Philippians 3:13-14: "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."

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow are all periods of time that concern us. Our yesterdays are past, gone forever—and we cannot return to them either to enjoy their successes or correct their failures. All should repent of past failures and make corrections to our lives as necessary. And once this has been done, then like Paul, we should forget those things which are behind. Past failures do not mean that we must continue to be failures and past successes do not assure us of final victory. We must continue to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Please notice carefully the location that is necessary before we can "press toward the mark." It is "in Christ." All the attempts that are being made in the religious arena by those who have never gotten into Christ are but vain.

How does one get into Christ? Paul in Galatians 3:27 and Romans 6:3 tells us that it is through the process of being baptized. Listen carefully: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27). "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death" (Rom. 6:3)? This means that unless one has been baptized into Christ he is not in Christ where "all spiritual blessings" are located (Eph. 1:3). And, if not in Christ, he is not in position to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Those who teach this need to consider very carefully because they and all who follow their false teaching are pressing toward the mark in the wrong location and therefore in vain.

According to Young's Analytical Concordance the word press in this verse means to pursue. This prize that we are seeking must be pursued in the proper arena or location. How do we pursue this prize? There are a number of statements that express this pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. Statements like I John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." The Hebrew writer states it this way, "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2a). And Paul states it in these words, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58).

There are other statements that speak of this pursuit in different words. However, these are sufficient to show that pursuit of the prize must involve faithfulness to God and His Word. It must involve our doing our best to conform our lives to His teaching. It involves a life of dedicated service to God. The time that we are to do this is also stressed in the Scriptures. It is today. "Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness" (Heb. 3:7-8). "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb. 3:13). "Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2b).

Tomorrow is our future. How we live today, how we pursue this "mark for the prize of God in Christ Jesus" will determine our tomorrow. There is no need to fear tomorrow if we repent of yesterday's mistakes, forget them, and spend today in pursuit of the prize which is only found in Christ Jesus.

How about you? Have you repented of your sins and been baptized into Jesus Christ for their remission (Acts 2:38)? And, if you have put the past behind you, are you now pressing toward the mark for the prize of God in Christ Jesus? If so, your tomorrow can be faced with joy as you await this wondrous prize that will be awarded to "all those who love his appearing" (II Tim. 4:6-8).
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

Not Afraid to Stand. . .

We never knew the power and pull of popularity and acceptability until we had the opportunity to see it in action. Some of my very close friends and gospel preachers have yielded to Satan's ploy along this line. Had you told me that such would happen I would never have believed you with regard to some of these folks. But it has happened and it continues to happen. Paul was shocked in his good friend Barnabas in this kind of thing (Gal. 2:13).

The apostle was deeply touched and hurt when the brethren forsook him as did Demas (II Tim. 4:10). Paul stood virtually alone for the gospel (II Tim. 4:16). We can see from this when the going gets rough the soft and weak start running and going from a stand for the gospel. This kind runs out on and away from the word of God when they face difficult times. I have in my files letters from some preachers that would shock the brotherhood if they knew of the cowardice of some well-known preachers. The right-thinking man who is a Christian would rather be right with God than wrong with the multitudes. It is very sickening to see such weak and unprincipled folks. God has no place for such individuals in the kingdom of heaven (Rev. 21:8).

Men like Guy N. Woods, Thomas B. Warren, Roy Deaver, B. C. Goodpasture, Gus Nichols, and hundreds of others like them never knew what it was to run when a stand for the Bible was needed and they certainly cared little for the praises of men. They appeared on programs where they were not the most popular and where cowardly brethren disapproved. They were not concerned with pleasing men and being accepted by them. Their goal was truth and God's approval and righteousness. Would to God we had more of this kind today. Our brotherhood has become very weak in stand and teaching today. Let us pray to God to send us more strong and brave soldiers in the Kingdom.
—Malcolm L. Hill