Brothers and sisters, 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.

Philippians 3:13

If there is one thing, like no other, that helps to run the Christian race with determination and zest to apprehend the prize Christ Jesus has promised His faithful servants, it is forgiveness. The offenses we hold against people is like a bag of stones tied to our legs on the tracks. We can’t get anywhere with it. Look at today’s athletes. If the rules allowed nakedness on the tracks, they would glory in it. They are swifter today because they’ve dropped every weight to make them lighter. When we forgive, we free ourselves from the weight of the offenses we carry. Letting go shows our seriousness about finishing the race well enough to qualify for the prize (Phil. 3:13-14).

God identifies Himself to us in Exodus 34:6-7 as a merciful and forgiving God. We become like Christ in every way when we live a life of total forgiveness every moment along our track to heaven. No wonder, Jesus spoke so much about forgiveness during his earthly ministry. Pivotal among these are the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-32) and the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matt. 18:21-35). His final gift to the world from the Cross was forgiveness (Lk. 23:34). He couldn’t have saved us if He had not forgiven us. He would not have finished His race. That’s why when He taught us to pray, He told us to ask for forgives from the Father, as we also have forgiven others (Matt. 6:12).

To run the race well, Paul had to forget the past and push himself to reach the finishing line in anticipation of the promised crown (Phil. 3:12-14; cf. 2 Tm. 4:8). Though his focus in Philippians 3 was his past accomplishments (4-6), there is little doubt that Paul had forgotten the past offenses against him and the pain he endured. Apart from Jesus, probably no one was abused and offended in ministry like the Apostle Paul. Check his letters to the Corinthian church and you will sense his pain and anguish in his difficult relationship with them. Yet, he forgave, that he could run the race well. You can see his heart of forgiveness in how he admonished his readers to forgive throughout his letters to the churches (2 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; Philemon 1:8-24).

Many of us are crippled by unforgiveness. We have become bitter and grumpy. Our vision is blurred, and our feet, heavy in the race to heaven. O, that we could let go, that we could run the race well (Heb. 12:1).

I know! It’s not easy to let go, but God has enough grace to carry you, if you decide to be like Him in forgiveness. Many will not appreciate your forgiveness (Lk. 15:25-30). But, just know the why and just do it. Then run until heaven dawns on you.