New Year Tension

People deal with drastically different feelings during the new year.

Some shake their heads with stress. “New year, new problems.”

Some embrace exciting opportunities and a fresh start.

Some people run from their past. Some live in it.

Some can’t wait for tomorrow. Some just want to make it through today.

Our relationship with time is often a complicated one. How should I feel about the new year? How do I process this last one?

As we live in the tension of a time between times, we will be helped by considering these powerful words from the Apostle Paul:

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13b-14).

A Surprising Thing to Forget

What does the Apostle Paul mean by “forgetting what lies behind?”.

Is this a blanket statement telling us to forget the past? Should Christians blind themselves to their histories and only be future-minded people?

I don’t think he meant for us to apply those words so broadly and universally.

In the context of Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul has something specific in view.

What he wants us to forget might surprise you.

He starts by sharing some of his impressive resume.

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless (Philippians 3:4b-6).

But instead of bragging about his accomplishments, he says this:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).

Paul is forgetting something specific.

What he has in mind is not his past hurts and traumas. It’s not his negative feelings and experiences. It’s not even his failures.

The surprising thing he chooses to forget is his accomplishments.

He forsakes his successes. He pitches his pedigree. He forgets his past accomplishments and considers them rubbish.

Why?

So that he may gain something better.

Trading Trash for Surpassing Worth

The Apostle Paul puts no confidence in his earthly successes and religious accomplishments.

He gives it all up for this reason:

“That I may know him” (Philippians 3:10a)

Paul found a person worth far more than his past accomplishments—Jesus Christ.

The sum total of all he was and all he worked for was garbage in comparison to knowing his Lord.

Having found that which is truly precious, why would he treasure trash? Why would he bother with the rubbish of his personal righteousness when he had received the righteousness of Christ?

Paul didn’t want to know any more “successes.” He didn’t need any more accomplishments.

He wanted to know him.

A Future Worth Running Toward

As you wrestle with the past year and the new, Paul’s words speak to you.

Here’s what you need to do:

1) Forget

Stop seeking peace through your past successes.

Stop looking for justification in your accomplishments.

Stop finding your identity in what you’ve done.

Forget it.

Leave it behind.

You’re running a race. So don’t stuff your pockets with rubbish.

Stop trying to earn. Stop thinking your accomplishments are worth anything in comparison to Christ.

Forget what lies behind.

2) Know

Know him.

Know his resurrection power.

Know his suffering and death. Share in them. And you’ll share in his resurrection, too.

Give yourself to knowing your Lord this year.

Know him in his Word.

Know him in prayer.

Know him in the fellowship of his body.

Know him by worshipping him in the congregation.

He is the greatest treasure of your life. His worth surpasses all. Nothing comes close.

In him, you receive every blessing in the heavenly places. So stop seeking paradise through your efforts and embrace the greatest gift of knowing him.

3) Press On

What you really need this year is Christ!

He is worth your time, focus, and devotion this year.

So strain forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The prize is worth it.

It’s worth opening your Bible every day.

It’s worth showing up in person to church every Sunday.

It’s worth the uncomfortable process of repentance and growth.

It’s worth the sacrifice of entertainment and comfort in order to love and serve.

Whatever else you may do this year, press on toward the goal.

Press on this year with Christ.

Press on this year for Christ.

Press on this year to represent Christ.

Press on and at the end, he will be there.