We can never go back, but we can always go forward with the Lord.”
–Kenneth Pratt (Everson Solstice)
“Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”
–Jeremiah 7:24(NKJV)
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“The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday!”
–U.S. Navy Seal slogan
My wife’s cousin, Nancy, always finishes a note or letter with “Ever onward.” That’s the way it should be, no, that’s the way it must be in our Christian walk and life; and I would add it is ever upward as well. It is ever onward, never stalling or going backwards. Another word of caution: “No Coasting!” Greg A. Lane states that “Coasting will always take us downhill.” Our walk is an uphill climb to the portals of glory. We sing, “I want to stand on heaven’s tableland”, but do we really put forth the effort required?
Paul writes to the Philippians,
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (3:12-14, NKJV)
He says to forget those things behind. In other words, do not rest upon your laurels. We must put past successes and failures behind us; it is important that we remember accomplishments of the past, the lessons we learned, but we are not to use them to think our work is done. Rejoice over the past, but turn your eyes to the present; you cannot go forward by looking backward. (Rick Renner) We must press ever onward and upward.
“Reaching forward,” or perhaps better is Harbuck, “reaching forth and exerting all my energy.” That means we do not coast for the goals of the day, nor the goal of heaven. “Reaching forward,” is to describe a runner approaching the finish line. He is putting forth all his effort and his eyes are only on the goal. Barclay says “it describes the man who is going flat out for the finish.” No Coasting here. This reaching out means to be “constantly reaching for it [the goal of perfection] in both attitude and lifestyle.” (Edward Starks)
The climb, at times, is steep, while at other times it is only a hill we must conquer, but it must be climbed as well. Try coasting uphill. If you ever ridden a bike you know that is nigh impossible. How far would you go uphill in a car if you didn’t press on the accelerator? Yes, we can get tired and weary, but we continue ever onward and upward.
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12, NKJV)
I like the way William Barclay translates part of this verse, “so that you may not become lazily lethargic…” Harbuck translates this portion, “that you not be sluggish and lazy…” Push through! When you have done all to stand, continue to stand. Go onward and upward, “I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day…” (Johnson Oatman, Jr.) Yes, sometimes we plod along, planting one foot in front of the other, at other times we are refreshed, and it seems that there are springs on our feet, but in either case we continue to go forward.
Let me ask some questions in closing that I gleaned from the writings of Rick Renner. Think carefully on these questions. 1) Am I accomplishing the goals the Lord has given me? Remember, there are long-range goals, heaven, discipleship, but there are also short-range goals; goals for each day and week. 2) Can I stand before Him with a heart free of condemnation, knowing that I gave my very best effort, work, and faith to achieve His will? True, no matter how hard we try we are not perfect, but we strive in that direction. I used to tell students, especially my “perfectionists” that they can never be perfect, but they can always be excellent. 3) What changes do I need to make? On the way to the summit you might have to gear down (I drove once in the Sierra Nevadas with the brakes going out–used only my gears, made it to Carson City and had brakes put on). So, learn how to use your gears, but never falter, never fail, keep going “ever onward and upward!”
——————————–
“The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday!”
–U.S. Navy Seal slogan
My wife’s cousin, Nancy, always finishes a note or letter with “Ever onward.” That’s the way it should be, no, that’s the way it must be in our Christian walk and life; and I would add it is ever upward as well. It is ever onward, never stalling or going backwards. Another word of caution: “No Coasting!” Greg A. Lane states that “Coasting will always take us downhill.” Our walk is an uphill climb to the portals of glory. We sing, “I want to stand on heaven’s tableland”, but do we really put forth the effort required?
Paul writes to the Philippians,
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (3:12-14, NKJV)
He says to forget those things behind. In other words, do not rest upon your laurels. We must put past successes and failures behind us; it is important that we remember accomplishments of the past, the lessons we learned, but we are not to use them to think our work is done. Rejoice over the past, but turn your eyes to the present; you cannot go forward by looking backward. (Rick Renner) We must press ever onward and upward.
“Reaching forward,” or perhaps better is Harbuck, “reaching forth and exerting all my energy.” That means we do not coast for the goals of the day, nor the goal of heaven. “Reaching forward,” is to describe a runner approaching the finish line. He is putting forth all his effort and his eyes are only on the goal. Barclay says “it describes the man who is going flat out for the finish.” No Coasting here. This reaching out means to be “constantly reaching for it [the goal of perfection] in both attitude and lifestyle.” (Edward Starks)
The climb, at times, is steep, while at other times it is only a hill we must conquer, but it must be climbed as well. Try coasting uphill. If you ever ridden a bike you know that is nigh impossible. How far would you go uphill in a car if you didn’t press on the accelerator? Yes, we can get tired and weary, but we continue ever onward and upward.
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:11-12, NKJV)
I like the way William Barclay translates part of this verse, “so that you may not become lazily lethargic…” Harbuck translates this portion, “that you not be sluggish and lazy…” Push through! When you have done all to stand, continue to stand. Go onward and upward, “I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day…” (Johnson Oatman, Jr.) Yes, sometimes we plod along, planting one foot in front of the other, at other times we are refreshed, and it seems that there are springs on our feet, but in either case we continue to go forward.
Let me ask some questions in closing that I gleaned from the writings of Rick Renner. Think carefully on these questions. 1) Am I accomplishing the goals the Lord has given me? Remember, there are long-range goals, heaven, discipleship, but there are also short-range goals; goals for each day and week. 2) Can I stand before Him with a heart free of condemnation, knowing that I gave my very best effort, work, and faith to achieve His will? True, no matter how hard we try we are not perfect, but we strive in that direction. I used to tell students, especially my “perfectionists” that they can never be perfect, but they can always be excellent. 3) What changes do I need to make? On the way to the summit you might have to gear down (I drove once in the Sierra Nevadas with the brakes going out–used only my gears, made it to Carson City and had brakes put on). So, learn how to use your gears, but never falter, never fail, keep going “ever onward and upward!”
“Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal.”
–Charles H. Spurgeon