The Upward Call

by

Rocky Fleming

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 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 3:13-14(ESV)   When I read the above verse, I was struck by the words “upward call.”  I was further intrigued by what the Apostle Paul said about it.  He said it is a prize, and it was his goal to pursue it.  Now I think it would be noteworthy to mention that Paul didn’t say that he expected to secure this prize, at least in this lifetime.  He said he pressed toward it, or another way of saying it, “he ran, walked or crawled” toward it.  It was his priority of life to pursue this prize any way he could chase after it.  It was his waking thought to pursue this prize.  It wears me out thinking about the priority he placed on this pursuit.  But, it also teaches me that if I want to make an impact with my life for God’s Kingdom like Paul did, then I need to understand his perspective, and adopt it myself.   I know what you are thinking.  You are asking why Paul couldn’t wrap his hands around the prize?  Why could he not secure something that was so important to him?  I would imagine that you and I would lose our motivation to stay on the track mile after mile, running for a prize that we can see, and yet can’t quite grasp.  It reminds me of the mule with a carrot tied in front of his face.  He keeps walking toward it, and it keeps moving away from him.  While he pursues the carrot, he doesn’t realize he is also pulling a load that some smart farmer hitched to him when he was looking at the tasty carrot.  Could it be, like the carrot, our pursuit of this elusive prize has another primary purpose that we do not see?  I am reminded of a story I read a few years ago by an unknown author.  It is a great illustration about obedience to God, even though we don’t see results.  

Pushing Against The Rock

  There once was a man who was asleep one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Saviour appeared to him. The Lord told him He had a work for him to do, and showed him a large rock explaining that he was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, and for many days he toiled from sunup to sundown; his shoulder set squarely against the cold massive surface of the rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man showed signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture - placing thoughts in the man's mind, such as, “Why kill yourself over this?, you're never going to move it!” or “Boy, you've been at it a long time and you haven't even scratched the surface!” etc. giving the man the impression the task was impossible and the man was an unworthy servant because he wasn't moving the massive stone. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man and he started to ease up in his efforts. “Why kill myself?” he thought. “I'll just put in my time putting forth just the minimum of effort and that will be good enough.” And this he did or at least planned on doing until, one day, he decided to take his troubles to the Lord. “Lord,” he said, “I have labored hard and long in Your service, putting forth all my strength to do that which You have asked of me. Yet after all this time, I have not even budged that rock even half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?” To this the Lord responded compassionately,  “My friend, when long ago I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength and that you have done. But never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it, at least not by yourself. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me, your strength spent, thinking that you have failed, ready to quit. But is this really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled; your back sinewed and brown. Your hands are calloused from constant pressure and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your ability now far surpasses that which you used to have. Yet still, you haven't succeeded in moving the rock; and you come to Me now with a heavy heart and your strength spent. I, my friend will move the rock. Your calling was to be obedient and push, and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom, and this you have done”   Interesting thought about some things we are asked to do that seem to have no significance, until we gain insight as Paul did about the “rock” he was asked to push.  He gives us a little more insight about the prize he was pursuing in verse 12:   “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” NIV   Paul’s “rock” was the prize.  Pressing on is giving it his best effort to move that “rock” even though he didn’t secure the prize for himself.  Unless we are willing to accept and understand that a goal or a prize is not always about what we win for our self, but what we might win for someone else, or that we might be playing an obscure part in the sovereign and thorough plan of God, we might miss Paul’s personal motivation for pursuing the prize he was pressing toward.  In this day and time when our pursuits are more about personal gratification and self-satisfaction, it is hard to grasp the purity of having a goal to bring honor to someone other than our self.  It is hard to keep laboring for that perceived “carrot”, and keep our motivation, unless we are willing to submit to our Master’s yoke and purpose as ourgoal, rather than what we are able to grasp.   Paul’s words, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” is a compelling statement to me.  Paul connected that Christ had a specific purpose for his life.  He was not only saved from something but also saved forsomething.  It was the “saved for”, the purpose for which Christ had taken hold of him that was Paul’s prize to pursue.  The reason his prize couldn’t be grasped in his lifetime was because his purpose would always exist as long as he lived.  When he took his last breath, Paul was handed his prize, for his race had been faithfully run and the prize was waiting for him.  This is why he ran his race even though he couldn’t grasp the prize in this lifetime, and this is the motivation as to why you and I run our race the best we can.   Sometimes we think we are pushing a “rock” in life.  We get up day in and day out and feel we are getting nowhere in life.  We even feel defeated in our spiritual life and wonder if we are pursuing any kind of prize for Christ, for we surely do not see ourselves grasping one.  We think there are other people doing more, they are happier, satisfied and living with greater purpose.  We look at our life and see a “rock” that never moves, no matter how hard we try and we ask, “Why can’t my life be more like theirs?”  Why am I wasting my time and life in this thankless job, or marriage, or church, or place I live in?”  Have you had those thoughts?  Do you have them now?  Well, don’t get down on yourself.  But also, do not stay where you are in self-pity, for you will not get out of that pit as long as self-pity remains.  Instead, allow your perspective to change from that of pursuing what you can grasp, to a goal of pursuing being faithful, and as steady as the “rock” you are asked by God to push.  God knows what He is doing in your life.  You should keep going to Him and even ask Him to change some things that need to be changed in your life.  But, do not give up hope and feel He is not listening to your prayers if His answer is delayed.  Wait Him out.  Trust Him.  Keep pushing that “rock” until He says it’s over and you will discover what it means to pursue the Upward Call.  It means to take hold of that which Christ has taken hold of you, and it begins the moment your goal is about pursuing Him and His purpose for your life rather than your own purpose.  So keep pressing on to that Upward Call.  One day you will receive the prize and it will all be worth it.  That “rock” is moving and you just can’t see it right now.  One day you will.