Joy in the Journey | Philippians 3:12-21
Do you like to run? According to a survey of 25,000 runners by the Strava app, almost 50% said they either hate or barely tolerate running; only 8% said they love it. I happen to be one of the 8%. I haven’t always felt that way. Back in high school, our football coach, back when men were men, would have us run hills until we puked. I used to literally almost cry when I heard it was “hill day.” But over the years, something changed. Now that I run for fun, I’ve learned to embrace the pain and find joy in the journey. It’s not that I always love getting out there, but I do love how I feel when I finish. It’s called a runner’s high. A runner’s high is that cocktail of endorphins that floods your brain after sustained exertion. The pain subsides, anxiety drops, and energy feels renewed. It’s the body’s way of rewarding perseverance. Because I know how good it feels when the run is done, I keep going even when I want to quit. David Goggins, a former Navy SEAL and endurance athlete, once ran 100 miles in 19 hours without training for it. He said, “Most people quit when they’re 40% done. The body gives up long before the soul does.” He calls it “The 40% Rule” when your mind says, “I can’t,” your body still has more to give. My old football coach used to say, “It’s mind over matter. If you don’t mind, then it doesn’t matter.”
That’s exactly what Paul is talking about in Philippians 3. In this chapter, Paul uses himself as an example of how to live the Christian life. He says we are to “imitate” his way of life. Paul had spent years building a spiritual résumé (achievements, status, reputation) but when he met Jesus, he realized all of it was rubbish (skubulon) compared to knowing Christ. God saved him from his resume and into a relationship. Now his one goal in life is to know Jesus more. In Philippians 3:12–21, Paul uses the analogy of running to describe the Christian journey in life. He’s going to teach us how to find joy in the journey and to finish strong, if we’ll learn to press on, watch out, and look up.