Eye On The Prize | November 2022 Monthly Newsletter
Written by Ps. Nicholas Hung | Senior Pastor of Antioch Gospel Church
Hi Church,
We trust you’re well and prospering in Him!
As a teenager I was a very keen sportsperson and athlete. I was one of the more athletic persons among my peers and I had, and still have in many ways, a strong competitive spirit within me. Some of my most looked forward to days of the schooling year were the varying sports carnivals that were held within our school and in our community. Typically my sights were set on winning as many events as possible and ultimately on receiving the big prize of best overall athlete.
I can definitely relate with the following words that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT)
As a result of wanting to be the one who would win, I prepped myself in such a way that would likely bring me to that place of victory. I would train on multiple days every week, pushing my body and soul to new limits of endurance and increasing pain thresholds. I would focus myself on improving my skills and would plan strategies for the win. I disciplined myself in each event so I could consistently deliver better results, maintained a strict diet and was always on the lookout for ways to improve my own personal best times and distances.
Even if I wasn’t likely to win certain events, I still determined to position myself in such a way that I had a chance – or at the very minimum, that I could walk away with a sense of having achieved more than I ever had before. It may have been a long while now since I’ve done any physical training of these sorts, but it’s experiences like this relentless pursuit of the prize that still cause Paul’s words to resonate deep within me.
Of course, Paul is not writing about an earthly sporting event or about winning a natural race. He’s referring to our spiritual journey and our focus towards the greatest prizes that there are for the winning. He says,
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NKJV)
The Message translation says: “I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.” (Philippians 3:14 MSG) Wow! The focus, the clarity, the undeterred sense of pursuit, the determination, the commitment … the prize. I absolutely adore Paul’s attitude towards reaching the highest prize and the way he persistently keeps his eyes fixed upon that prize.
What exactly is the prize that Paul is pressing towards? What is the prize that we ought to be pursuing? The greatest prize of all is Jesus Himself. To know Jesus intimately and to enjoy an intimate relationship with Him is the greatest joy anyone could ever experience on this earth. Like a bride pursues her lover, Paul pursues his Saviour.
Paul chased hard after things that would last and endure rather than after temporary pleasures. He sought the heavenly calling, instead of getting trapped in the lust for earthly accolades and material gain. To please God and to fulfill His calling, and to enter into his eternal home in heaven, crowned with the rewards of a life lived within His calling were prizes that Paul focused himself upon and never regretted chasing. The crown of life and the crowning prizes for winning the lost and the joyful knowledge of the eternal impact we’ve had in their lives are incomparable and irreplaceable.
To one day be able to say, as Paul did, “We ran our race well, pursued the prize of Christ and heaven is our home,” is a prize for which we’ll be eternally grateful that we kept our eyes upon. And while the world presents us with a relentless stream of distracting forces and influences, constantly attempting to cause us to drift and lose sight of what really matters, it’s those who follow in Paul’s footsteps, keeping their eyes on the prize, who will ultimately shine like stars throughout eternity.
The prize is ours for the taking church. Focus … keep your eyes on the prize.
Blessings,
Pastor Nicholas Hung