“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended… but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” — Philippians 3:13–14
In a city like Lagos, there is a quiet but constant pressure to move ahead. It may not always be spoken, but it is felt—in conversations, in comparisons, in the silent expectations we place on ourselves. You look around and it seems as though everyone is progressing, everyone is achieving, everyone is advancing. And if you are not careful, you begin to measure your life by the speed of your movement.
It is in this kind of environment that the words of the Apostle Paul speak with unusual clarity: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark…”
Paul was not speaking as a man who had failed in life. He was a man of discipline, of conviction, and of deep spiritual experience. Yet, he makes a striking confession—he had not yet arrived. He had not attained all that was before him. And instead of settling into what he had already achieved, he chose to press forward.
There is a lesson here that is both simple and profound: the Christian life is not about arrival; it is about movement. It is not about perfection; it is about progress. It is not about comparison; it is about direction.
One of the most powerful aspects of Paul’s statement is his deliberate decision to let go of what lies behind. When he says, “forgetting those things which are behind,” he is not suggesting that memory is erased, but that the past is no longer permitted to control the present.
For many people, the past is a weight they continue to carry. There are mistakes that still speak, regrets that still linger, opportunities that were missed and cannot be recovered. Even when life appears to be moving forward, the mind remains tied to what has already happened. But there is another side to this. Sometimes it is not failure that holds us back, but success. We become comfortable with past achievements, and instead of growing, we begin to settle.
Paul refuses both extremes. He does not allow failure to define him, and he does not allow success to limit him. He releases both, and he moves forward.
But moving forward is not automatic. It requires intention. That is why he says, “this one thing I do.” There is focus here. There is clarity. There is a deliberate narrowing of attention to what truly matters.
In a place like Lagos, it is possible to be busy without being purposeful. The days are full, the schedule is tight, the movement is constant—but not all movement is progress. Without direction, activity becomes exhaustion. But when there is clarity of purpose, even small steps become meaningful.
Paul describes this forward movement as reaching forth—stretching, extending, pressing beyond where he currently is. And then he uses an even stronger word: pressing. This suggests effort. It suggests resistance. It suggests persistence in the face of difficulty.
Because the truth is that growth is not convenient. There will be delays. There will be distractions. There will be moments when it feels as though nothing is changing. There will be times when you question whether the effort is worth it. But to press forward is to continue even when the results are not immediately visible. It is to trust that something is happening beneath the surface.
Another trap that Paul quietly dismantles is the trap of comparison. In a city where everyone’s progress is visible, it is easy to measure your journey against someone else’s. But Paul does not say, “this is what others are doing.” He says, “this one thing I do.” His focus is personal. His responsibility is individual.
Growth becomes powerful when it becomes personal. When you understand that your journey is not identical to anyone else’s, you are freed from unnecessary pressure. You are able to move at the pace that God has ordained for you, without the burden of trying to keep up with everyone else.
And ultimately, Paul reminds us that this forward movement is not aimless. He is pressing toward a mark—a goal. For the believer, that goal is not merely material success or social recognition. It is something deeper. It is the pursuit of God’s purpose. It is growth in character. It is alignment with His will. It is becoming who He has called you to be.
This is why this message matters so much in a place like Lagos. In a city driven by speed, visibility, and results, it is easy to feel as though you are behind. But the truth is, you are not called to arrive quickly; you are called to move faithfully. Your pace may be different. Your journey may be quiet. Your progress may not always be visible. But if you are moving forward, you are growing.
And so the call is simple, but not easy: let go of what is behind, focus on what lies ahead, and keep pressing forward. Not because everything is perfect, but because there is still more ahead of you.
In a city that constantly asks, “Have you arrived?” faith gently but firmly responds, “Keep going.”
Prayer
Lord, help me to release the weight of the past and to press forward into the future You have prepared for me. Give me focus, strength, and endurance for the journey ahead. Amen.
- Adapted from Growing the Christian Life (Volume 2), part of the 12-volume Sermon Notes Series by Rev. Dr. Kayode Ilupeju, now on sale. Contact us for copies or order online from Amazon.
