Second Sunday in Lent:
Keepin' On

Phil. 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Luke 13:31-32 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."
He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'

A number of years ago my predecessor at one of the churches i served came to the denomination's annual report form with the question: What are your long-term goals? As he later told the story, he got this little smile on his face, turned to his secretary and said, "Put in there- 'To get to heaven!'" According to his story no one in the denominational headquarters ever said anything to him about it.

At least he was being biblical about it. The goal, says Paul- the prize- heavenward in Christ Jesus. For Jesus it was that third day we look forward to in five weeks.

But is there more? Is the other-worldly, heavenly prize the only goal? In many ways that leaves this world as a place to live through or put up with or just manage to make it in with the real prize being beyond our sight or understanding. I don't think that is true. If it were, Paul (not to mention Jesus) would not have been as involved in the people and things of this world as they were. Preaching about heaven was part of it, but it went beyond that. Water and wine, loaves and fish, healings, collecting money for the widows and orphans. Unless we are willing to see "works" as a way to heaven (which I'm not)these are part of the "heaven-bound" life.

Press onward. Keepin' on. The eyes on the prize, but not overlooking the road on the way.

Paul and Silas, bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail

Keep your eyes on the prize,
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!

The very moment we thought we was lost,
Dungeon shook and the chains fell off,

Keep your eyes on the prize,
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!

Only thing that we did wrong
Was stayin' in the wilderness so long,

Keep your eyes on the prize,
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on,
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on!

Only thing that we did right
Was the day we begun to fight!

Keep your eyes on the prize,
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
African_American Spiritual
Recorded by Bruce Springsteen on We Shall Overcome