Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect but…. I press on….. to take hold of that for 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 win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
Paul sees himself as a runner in a race……... Hebrews 12:1
exerting all his strength and pressing on with intense concentration in order Not to fall short of the goal that Christ has set for his life -- Pauls perfect oneness with Christ.
throughout our lives all kinds of distractions, and temptations, such as life's worries, riches and evil desires, threaten to choke off our commitment to the Lord, but let us throw off everything that hinders running with perseverance the race marked out for us fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.