The End Of The Race

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14

WHEN WE SCAN THROUGH social media, taking in the reports of the activities and achievements of our friends’ kids —complete with stunning photography —we may wonder if we’ve done enough or if we are enough as parents. At such times we need to be reminded of the ultimate goal of life, and thereby the ultimate goal of parenting: to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize. We are not parenting our kids merely for a “successful” life in the here and now; we’re preparing them for what lies beyond this life. Paul’s call for us to focus on this one thing —what lies ahead for us in heaven —readjusts our perspective about this life. Not being invited to the party, or not making the team, or not getting into the school is robbed of its power to crush. A focus on heaven and a growing sense of anticipation of what awaits us there implants in us and in our children the perspective-shaping reality that the grandest experiences and greatest pleasures of this life will never fully satisfy us, but are foretastes of the ultimate satisfaction of our future home.

Focusing on what is to come fills our ordinary days of parenting with eternal purpose. Our goal becomes reaching the new creation together with our children. We stop trying to force all that awaits us in the new creation into the here and now and instead, “press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me” (Philippians 3:12). This perspective keeps us from requiring perfection from our children and being crushed by their imperfections. It also relieves us from the burden of expecting we can parent perfectly. Instead, we can confess our parenting failures to our children and seek forgiveness from Jesus.

We hear you calling us to press on in this race, which is leading us toward a heavenly life with you. Forgive us for being so shortsighted to expect that we can experience all of heaven’s joys and perfections in the here and now. Fill us with greater anticipation of what is to come so that our joyful expectation will spill out on _______.