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I don't mean to say
that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached
perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all
that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and
sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies
on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies
ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for
which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
(Philippians 3:12-14 NLT).
I want to
continue to examine the theme of persistence as we look at the theme of
finishing well in our lives. Often we put too high a premium on
flexibility. In times of difficulty, it is tenacity that enables us to
win. Remember the illustration I mentioned yesterday? The tortise does win
the race over the hare. Old-fashioned stick-to-it-iveness is normally the
key ingredient to victory.
At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, James Madison was one of the
most active speakers—and many wise provisions in the final document owe
their origin to his foresight and learning. Deeply versed in theories of
governance and profoundly affected by his Christian faith, he realized
only too well that his gravest flaw was a tendency to become rather
over-zealous during debate. Along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay,
Madison wrote the brilliant Federalist Papers and was the trusted
advisor and confidante of both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Later, he would make a mark on history as the fourth President of the
fledgling nation during particularly difficult days. But it was at the
Convention that his gifts were most evident and star shone brightest.
Knowing that he was apt to get carried away when addressing the
Convention, he asked a fellow Virginian to sit by his side and tweak his
coattails if he seemed to be getting too obviously excited. After a
particularly impassioned speech he sat down, almost exhausted, and
reproached his friend for not pulling at his coat. “Sir,” said the now
obviously awestruck man, “I would just as soon have laid a finger upon
lightning.”
There is a peculiar power in this kind of commitment. There is an almost
indescribable appeal that attaches itself to uncompromising vision and
principled passion. This fact is illustrated again and again all
throughout history. This is the central message of the apostle. Paul knew
that his life was soon to end. His desire was that he finish well what he
had begun in the lives of his friends in Philippi. More than that, he
desired that they catch the same vision and live with the same passion he
had found. Look at the words he uses in our reading this morning. He was
focused. He was not distracted by the things happening around him.
He kept his gaze on the ultimate goal of his life. He was straining.
Such a persistence is not easy. It does require conscious effort. It is
work to finish well. What’s the level of your passion? How’s your focus?
How are you running? Tomorrow we’ll look at this more. Today, commit
yourself to a passionate persistence, rooted in the truth of Scripture, so
that you may not only run well, but finish well!
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