Philippians 3:13,14 – “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.”
Have you arrived yet? That question embodies a predetermined destination that is desirable and satisfying. “Having arrived” speaks of achievement and reaching a goal that is worthy of accolades and commendation. In verse 13 Paul resists this temptation by stating, “I do not count myself to have apprehended…” The previous verses spell out what Paul is after, stated explicitly in verse 11 – “(That) I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.” Paul wants to die…so that he can be resurrected to eternal life. Chapter 3 ends in verses 20 and 21 with these words, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
So we know what the end game is…our “lowly body” transformed and conformed to “His glorious body.” No wonder Paul is desiring to get there (heaven)!
So what do we do between “here” and “there?” We press on!