In Philippians 3:14, what does it mean to press on toward the goal, and what is the goal?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Philippians 3:14 describes Paul’s goal as “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” That verse, and the context of the whole chapter, reveals the goal is knowing Christ through participating in His suffering (Philippians 3:8,10; Matthew 16:24) and receiving the heavenly prize of eternal life with the Lord (Philippians 3:14; Matthew 16:25). The Bible teaches that focusing on the Lord helps us achieve what He has in store for us in this life and in the eternal life to come. Staying focused on the Lord helps us stay the course of our spiritual journey (Proverbs 4:25–27; Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 119:32). Believers focus on living for the Lord and on the goal of our eternity with the Lord. In many of his letters, Paul depicts this goal as the finish line to the metaphorical race believers run (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Hebrews 12:1–2; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; Colossians 3:1–2). The present life and the sufferings believers endure bring us closer to Christ and closer to the goal of eternal life in His presence (Philippians 3:10–11).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Proverbs 4:25–27, a father advises his son, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” The goal, whether in the Old or New Testament, is to follow God, just as Paul’s goal was to follow Christ to reach the goal of eternal life.
• One metaphor Isaiah 40:31 uses for those who love and follow God is that of a runner whose source of strength is the Lord: “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Just as the Lord has always upheld His children, He upheld Paul, so he could achieve the goal of eternal life (Philippians 4:13).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Philippians 3:14, Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” After his salvation and ministry call, Paul’s goal was to know Christ (Philippians 3:8), to be like Him even in suffering (Philippians 3:10), and to finally, after a life of faith, reach the heavenly reward of being with Christ.
• Philippians 3:14 recalls the race Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” This metaphor points to the heavenly reward of eternal relationship with Christ that Paul pursued and that should be the goal of all believers.
• In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul identifies the reward that awaits believers at the finish line: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” Believers today press on toward the same goal Paul pursued: the heavenly prize.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

From childhood playground races to prove who was fastest to high school track teams to adults running in 5K marathons for a good cause, all races have one thing in common—the goal of reaching the finish line and winning the prize. Believers are in a race, and the stakes are higher than any competition on earth. We’re pursuing the same goal Paul did: the heavenly prize. For that reason, we cast off “everything that hinders” our relationship with God (Hebrews 12:1 [NIV]) and pursue the Lord in every area of our lives. This includes prayer, worship, obedience, reading the Bible, fellowshipping with other believers, and sharing the gospel with the world. Sometimes, the race is painful, but we don’t stop running because Christ Himself is at the finish line. Keeping our eyes on Him is our motivation to continue; may we always be "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The present life and the sufferings believers endure bring us closer to Christ and closer to the goal of eternal life in His presence (Philippians 3:10–11).

UNDERSTAND

• Believers press on toward the goal, living a life of faith until we reach eternity.
• The goal believers press on to is living a life worthy of the upward call of Christ until we spend eternity with Him.
• We can press on toward the goal as we live lives of faith in Him.

REFLECT

• What distractions or challenges keep you from focusing on the goal of knowing Christ and living for Him?
• How does the promise of eternal life with Christ motivate you to persevere in your faith journey?
• What practical steps can you take to “press on” when your spiritual race feels difficult or overwhelming?

ENGAGE

• How can we encourage others to keep their eyes on the goal of Christ during challenging seasons of life?
• What does it look like to live as though we are running toward the prize of eternal life in our daily lives?
• How can reflecting on Paul’s perseverance inspire us to stay faithful and focused on our spiritual race?