Crossroads

I retired last week after almost 32 years with one company. When you get to that point, after 32 years of doing something day after day you can find yourself at a major crossroad and it can be a very emotional time. You get a bunch of questions like what are you going to do now and aren’t you afraid you will get bored? You know the typical encouraging comments...but in reality this crossroad can lead you to questions, it can point to uncertainty, it can leave you a little concerned, maybe even a little afraid. I think life is filled with crossroads and while this in the scheme of things is not huge it still can be consuming. 

There is a passage in Philippians that helps me, it just sets me straight, it reminds and encourages. For me it provides the answer to uncertainty as we face those crossroads of life. Maybe some of you are at a crossroad now or will be at some point, maybe you will not be sure if you should do this or that, to go this way or that way, but to me you can take heart and be encouraged. 

Philippians 3:12-24 

Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to wing the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

This passage speaks volumes and says so much. However, it is not telling us to forget the experiences of the past, but it does tell us to forget the attainments so that we can see that there is so much more to strive for; so much more to attain. It is telling us not to rest in the accomplishments of the past, but to recognize the exciting things that lie ahead; things like a deepening knowledge of and relationship with Christ, a life of sharing the Good News with a world so desperate for some good news; a life filled with grace and love.

James Hastings said that the perfect man of this passage “is the man that can see the vast stretches before him to be traversed, the man that knows there are shining heights yet to climb, that there are glories unspeakable ahead.” 

Everyone, no matter your crossroad...press on in Christ Jesus...press on to shining heights only possible through Christ...press on to the glories unspeakable that lie ahead! 

Grace and Peace!