Philippians 3:12 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Saul of Tarsus had been a rising star among the Jewish leadership. He was well educated and skilled in the Law Service and zealous in keeping and enforcing the Law. He described his previous life as “a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee” (Acts 23:6). He declared before a Jewish court, “after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee” (Acts 26:5) and “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” (Acts 26:9). He had quite a resume’ among the Jewish leadership and was set to rise to great authority and power. However, his worship was from carnal motives and evil intent. Great bodies of people worship idols and their leaders and are committed even unto death, some even employ the name of God for their carnal worship. But, in one instant, the voice of the Son of God speaking into Him, forever altered his motives and course of Life (Acts 9:4). On the Road to Damascus, the Lord called him to Spiritual Life and made him realize that all his previous accomplishments were all vanity. Now, the things that satisfied his soul was obeying and serving the very Lord that he had once so zealously persecuted. Now, with his God-given Spiritual Life, he lovingly declared, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind”. Instead of heaping glory upon himself for all his previous accomplishments, he presented himself before his Lord as a humble and contrite servant, “forgetting those things which are behind”. So should we!