Mr. Stallion approached the four colts and said, “I must select one of you to represent our farm at the great race in the city.” “Let it be me,” begged one of the colts. “I’d be the best representative!” “But I am the most handsome,” boasted another. “It should be me!” “No, me, because I’m the biggest,” said another. Stallion stomped his foot. “Silence! I’ll decide who will go.” It’ll be the fastest among you. And to determine that, I want you all to line up behind this rock.” After the colts were in position, Stallion said, “Now run toward that oak tree standing in the field. The one who reaches it first will be our representative. Now, get ready, get set, go!”
The four colts dashed toward the tree. One colt ran proudly, head high and tail straight. “I’ve got to look good on TV,” he told himself. The second colt looked down at the ground. “I mustn’t trip,” he mused. The third colt turned again and again to see how close to him the others were. “I won’t let any of them gain on me,” he told himself. But the fourth colt won. He kept his eyes on the oak tree!
To the person who strictly adheres to prescribed or external forms of religion, the demands of his conscience can be met by performing certain outward rites, or by visibly obeying the “standards of the church. ” But to the Apostle Paul, the Christian life was something more than that. To him, the Christian life consisted of a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, submission to His will, implicit trust, and a continuous effort to attain moral perfection. Hence the words of Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV): “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, /press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. “
I truly admire Saint Paul! Early on, he had no doubt been told the words of Jesus: “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work /plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62/Living Bible). What makes Paul’s life so laudable is that none other has lived with such definiteness of aim. No other career has been run with such unity of purpose. Nothing seemed to distract him. Nothing could divert him from his course. He had set his eyes upon the goal placed before him by Christ. To attain that, was his single purpose, and upon that goal he concentrated all his thoughts and desires. May we keep our eyes on the goal just as the Apostle did!
September/October 1987