The Ultimate Race

Philippians 3
12 ....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.

Not apprended means that Paul has not laid hold of perfect knowledge of the sinner's relationship with Jesus, has not laid hold of a perfected relationship with Jesus. Perfect knowledge would be when you lay hold of Jesus and He lays hold of you. (See The KJV Bible With Strong's References).

The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a race, maybe the olympics, and the mark is the spiritual finish line.
Here is a wonderful insight into this passage, from a sermon by Thomas Playfere, 1561-1609, an English churchman and theologian, with a Puritan's heart:

From "The Pathway to Perfection"
He that remembers his virtues hath no virtues to remember, seeing he wants humility, which is the mother virtue of all virtues. For this is the difference between the godly and the wicked: both remember virtues, but the godly remember other men's virtues, the wicked remember their own.

I wonder. Is the life of a Christian a quiet walk with Jesus? Or an olympic marathon with salvation and God's spiritual reward as the prize?

The answer, without a doubt is....