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faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12: 1, 2).
Here we have the runner, and the motive of the race that is set before him is parallel
with "the joy that was set before Him". Christ is here seen as the "Captain" (Author) and
"Perfecter" (Finisher) of "faith" (not of our faith). Over against (anti) the joy that was set
before Him, was the cross with its shame which He endures. The word for "looking" in
the phrase "looking unto Jesus" is the Greek word aphorao, "to look away from", which
brings this important verse into line with those already considered.
It is in connection with the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, that we
have the warning not to follow those who "mind earthly things". In the pursuit of this
prize the apostle says, "one thing I do", thus emphasizing the fact that it is not possible
while "minding things on the earth" to run for the prize. To do so would be to attempt
the simultaneous accomplishment of two incompatible acts. The apostle is also said:
"forgetting those things which are behind", which is another way of putting the
exhortation, "seek . . . . . set", of Col. 3: 1, 2. The opposite is sadly illustrated in Israel's
history, for, instead of forgetting the things left behind in Egypt, they said "We
remember", with the result that their carcasses fell in the wilderness, and they became
examples of those who, minding earthly things, forfeit the prize. Again, the Apostle said:
"I press toward the mark." This is impossible unless the runner sets his mind upon the
mark. The whole attitude of the triumphant runner of Phil. 3: is summed up in
verse 20:
"For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour."
The word "look" in this passage is apekdechomai, "to expect (from some other place)
away from (this one)."
In his last epistle the apostle said that "the crown" was for all those that have loved the
appearing. This is in immediate contrast with the attitude of Demas who "loved the age
that is now".
We find therefore many illustrations of the meaning of the apostle's exhortation in
Col. 3: 1, 2. "Things above" are "things not seen"; things that are heavenly and real, not
temporal and passing. Pleasures that are for evermore are contrasted with the pleasures
of sin which are transient. Moreover we have seen that there can be no possibility of
attaining the goal, finishing the course, receiving a crown, attaining to the prize of the
high calling, apart from this faith that "endures as seeing Him Who is invisible".