Last Sunday, CERC brought their A-game to church. Attendees came dressed in sports attire as the ushers greeted us with an enthusiastic, ‘LET’S GOOOO’. At the entrance of the hall was a finishing line with words, “Keep Straining Forward”. But why?
Usher Jonathan Lai passing the finishing line worded, “KEEP STRAINING FORWARD”
An astute eye will recognise the phrase from Philippians 3:13. It was the key verse accompanying the week’s sermon, “Let those of us who are mature think this way”. In the sermon, Robin showed us that in Philippians 3, what we have on view is a kid that can’t wait to get home.
And this was expounded on in many ways throughout the liturgy. As the congregation walked in, they were accompanied by the soundtrack from Chariots of Fire. The people pressed forward, intentionally guided toward the front of the hall, where they faced the Philippians banner depicting Christ and his act of love on the cross. It was a clever design by the MC of the day, Zecharaiah Liew, turning even the congregation’s movement into a picture of the day’s message.
Then, the MC for the day invited three professional athletes to help the congregation appreciate the determined mindset, internal struggles and forward-looking hopes of a sportsman. Their reflections struck a chord with many in the congregation, who recognised parallels with their own Christian walk.
Many were especially encouraged by Tory Yew, an ex-national-level cheerleader. Ilona Gan, a committed member of CERC, remembered one particularly memorable moment came when Tory drew a parallel between cheerleaders working together and the church striving together toward the final day. His exhortation carried even more weight after he reflected on the stakes involved in his own sport: “If someone gets distracted, (as a flyer) my life is in danger.” (Note: A flyer is the person who is thrown up to two storeys high during a cheer routine.)
Joyce Pan, one of the latest members of Shah Alam GG, said she found the athletes’ reflections particularly relevant to the text. “I think it was quite commendable achievements they have. Not like some school-level person only. They actually show dedication. And I think the effort, focus and talk of confidence int the flesh really helped manifests Philippians 3 (what goes into striving and what loss) in real life,” she said. Jeremiah Tay, a former captain of the Selangor tennis team, reflected on how his crushed confidence had once distracted him from working hard and straining toward victory, and how similarly in ministry, many may get distracted from the cross through a misplaced confidence in the flesh. Jia Ying’s reflection, meanwhile, captured the focus and determination required to keep pressing forward. She recalled her coach’s advice to focus simply on hitting the ball one point at a time, rather than being distracted by the 21 points needed to win the game.
Former national level cheerleader Tory Yew, former Selangor state team captain Jeremiah Tay, and former state level badminton player Soo Jia Ying sharing their experience as an athlete and how it has shaped their attitude towards Christ and His church.
The Bible readings painted the Christian life as one of pressing forward, ever looking toward the final day when we will be united with Christ in glory. Psalm 73 showed the temptation of measuring life by what we can see now rather than straining toward the end. Luke 14 depicted both the end of those who refuse to follow Christ and the cost of pressing forward toward him. Finally, Romans 3 and 5 reminded us that what the Christian strains toward is not a righteousness of our own, but one that comes through union with Christ.
The church helping young and old to know Christ who we are striving towards.
All this landed on the main goal of the sermon: for us to be clear on our deathbeds that life is about Christ and nothing else. Pastor Robin, the preacher for the series, showed us the surpassing worth of Christ through Philippians 3 and our already given identity in Him. He also lovingly admonished CERC for allowing ourselves to be firmly rooted in this fading world in spite of professing to desire and strain toward Christ. He implored the church to be like the kid at the bus stop, looking forward to going home to be with our Father, because we are His children.
Robin showing us what we are like when weallow ourselves to be firmly rooted in this fading world – not seeing Christ as enough
In remembrance of Christ, the one we are straining forward to, the gathering ended with the Lord’s Supper and dinner in appreciation of the fellowship we now have in Him.
The church having the Lord’s Supper together
During dinner, Wong Chuan Khai reflected that the sermon changed the way he thought about works. “I used to think linearly about salvation. I was once a sinner, and then I accepted Christ, and now I am saved. But today helped me see that it was not my righteousness, but Christ that has made me His own.” When asked if the gathering challenged him, he thoughtfully added, “My comfort,” alluding to the way he was deeply rooted in this fading world.
Chuan Khai (in front and squatting) reflecting on life with other CERC regulars.
And Nicole Tan, a recent convert, reflected that, “Christ has given us everything we need to finish this race: the citizenship in heaven which He has attained for us! I strain forward to complete this race, because He is the destination and the goal that surpasses all others in worth.” In our conversation, she also reflected that this the way she sees life and work has changed so much since becoming a Christian, and this life for Christ is everything next to all her previous achievements and goals.
