Paul's Unwavering Gaze

​Read: Philippians 3:7-14
 
            We have come a long way together in our summer sermon series, "Rooted in the Story: Great Figures of Faith." During this journey, we have seen how God works faithfully across the generations, rooting us in covenant, tradition, and lasting faith. We struggled with Jacob, prayed quietly like Samuel, hid with David as he learned to greet the morning, stood outside Elijah's cave listening for God's voice during our own times of burnout, walked dusty roads with Ruth and Naomi, sang with Mary, and saw Peter's tearful face, realizing that God builds His church not with perfect people, but with those changed by grace who choose faith. Now, in week nine, we focus on Paul—a man whose life shows us what real transformation and persistence look like. Our theme is "Paul's Unwavering Gaze," based on Philippians 3:7-14. This passage meets us where our past mistakes and future hopes cross, reminding us that lasting faith does not dwell on the past or boast about the future. Instead, it keeps its focus on Christ.
 
            To really understand the strength of Paul's words in Philippians 3, we need to remember who he was. Paul was not a young, inexperienced believer. He was an older apostle, writing from a Roman prison cell. His body showed the marks of a life spent following Jesus—he had been beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, and betrayed. Paul also carried a difficult personal history. Before becoming an apostle, he was Saul, someone who hunted down and imprisoned Christians, even approving their deaths. If anyone had a past that could weigh them down or a conscience troubled by regret, it was Paul. Yet, look at how he sees his life in verses 7 and 8: "Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Paul is not just talking about his mistakes or failures. He is also talking about his achievements—his religious background, his respected heritage, his education under Gamaliel, his strict following of the law, and his good reputation. In both the ancient world and today, these are things people often use to define themselves. But Paul looks at all his accomplishments and pride, and he calls it "rubbish." The Greek word he uses is very straightforward: skubalon; it means refuse or waste.
 
            Why does Paul say this? Because compared to knowing Christ Jesus, everything else loses its value. Paul realized that trying to earn his own righteousness led nowhere. He did not want a righteousness based on following rules, but one that comes through faith in Christ—a gift given by grace. As United Methodists, we hold this idea at the heart of our beliefs. John Wesley spent years trying to earn salvation through strict discipline and good works, but only found peace when he realized that salvation is a gift of grace received by faith. We do not climb up to God; Christ came down to us. Our identity is not based on our achievements or status, but on being found in Him. Being found in Christ does not mean an easy life. Paul says in verses 10 and 11: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Paul does not want a comfortable version of Christianity. He wants both the power of the resurrection and the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. He knows that real change means letting go of our ego, our need for control, and our self-reliance so that Christ's life can shine through us.
 
            Now we reach the main point of our theme this week—verse 12. This verse should comfort anyone who feels like they are still growing: "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of me." Notice what Paul says. Even though he is a great apostle, the author of much of the New Testament, and a missionary who changed the world, he admits he has not arrived. He is honest about his imperfections. He does not approach his faith with pride, but with a steady desire to keep moving forward. Paul understands that Christ has already reached towards him. Before Paul ever sought Jesus, Jesus had already found him. Our Christian life is not about chasing after God in a panic; it is about responding each day to the One who has already welcomed us by grace. How does Paul keep going? He shares his approach in verse 13: "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."
 
            "Forgetting what lies behind." This is often the hardest part of our Christian life. Many of us hold on to our past. We remember our sins, regrets, and failures, letting shame weigh us down. Sometimes, we look back at our successes or "glory days" and get stuck in nostalgia, thinking our best days are over. Paul tells us to let it go—not by forgetting completely, but by refusing to let the past control our future. The rearview mirror in life is for quick glances, not for staring. If we keep looking back, we will miss what is ahead. Instead, Paul urges us to "strain forward to what lies ahead." He uses the image of a runner in a race, leaning forward, eyes on the finish line, undistracted by the crowd or fatigue. "I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."
 
            Looking back over the whole "Rooted in the Story" series, we see a common thread uniting Jacob's limp at the Jabbok, Samuel's willingness, David's song in the cave, Elijah's still moment on Horeb, Ruth's loyalty, Mary's bold song, Peter's stumbles, and now Paul's steady focus in prison. None of these faith heroes were perfect. Each had a past, struggles, doubts, or brokenness. But their past did not define them. They were defined by their future and by God's constant presence. As you go into your week, whatever burden you carry—whether it is guilt, failure, or the pressure to prove yourself—listen to Paul's encouragement from his prison cell. Let go of yesterday's weight. Stop keeping score of your efforts. Look ahead to God's grace. Your past does not define you, but the One who calls you forward does. Keep your focus steady. Keep moving forward. The prize of God's call in Christ Jesus is ahead, and His grace will carry you all the way.