In our Bible study yesterday, we covered the topic of envy and coveting. Love does not covet. This is such a critical issue in today’s society and the advertising industry is counting on your old man’s desire to covet. We are bombarded with ads that would convince us to be someone we are not. Nike reportedly inked an endorsement deal with Kevin Durant of the OKC Thunder basketball team that is reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars over the next 10 years. Why would they pay him so much? Because young men think that if they buy Nike shoes with KD’s endorsement, somehow they will attain similar fame and fortune. They will be one of the elite. Yet Paul of worldly achievements and says:
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Many promises and blessings are given in Scripture. Those pertain to the citizens of Heaven, not the world system.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
Paul’s past as an expert in the Law was but rubbish in comparison to being a citizen of Heaven. Jesus provided the reconciliation with Our Heavenly Father restoring each of us to the Creator of the universe. How can any achievement be compared to the majesty of this connection?
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
People want to know and have this power found in the resurrection but the ego wants to bypass any fellowship of His sufferings. As we die to the old man we are conforming to HIs death and we too will realize this power of the resurrection as well. As we become like Him in His death, likewise we will become like Him in His resurrection. It is the true reward of everlasting life.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me
Paul’s instruction is meant to encourage us to press on. Even as he comprehended and wrote these instructions and warnings, he too was yet to be fully perfected. I certainly relate with his position. These blogs I write are to instruct me as much as others who read them. I trust the Holy Spirit to impart a Word for us each day. As I honor HIM with the firstfruits of the day, HE responds with what is on HIS Mind for me to share. I too press on to the high calling:
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We must live in the “now”, not in the past. We must forget the past and move on. Let us focus our eyes on the upward call. The things of the past cannot be changed. Forgive and be forgiven. Quit defending your past actions. If you have wronged somebody, ask to be forgiven in a heartfelt manner and move on. However, it must be heartfelt and not simply done in a “legal” manner. If you don’t really mean it, you really haven’t sought forgiveness. It’s all about intent.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Paul urges us who are maturing to be of the same mind, to be in unity. There will be those who will resist the path to full maturity. They will rely on past revelation and will remain there. They don’t want to change and they don’t want to release the past, including those revelations that were relevant only for that level of maturity. We must shed any weight that would hinder us from pressing toward the goal. Yes there will be some relationships that will be disconnected as you pursue the full maturity in Christ. Each of us will be reconciled in our own timing. Until that occurs, those relationships will be placed on hold and await restoration, even if it is done in Heaven.
Joshua and Caleb surely had many relationships with those who perished in the wilderness. I’m sure there was sadness as those with unbelief died without realizing the goal of entering the Promised Land. Be of good cheer, we all will ultimately be reconciled. Those of us who press on to the high calling and enter through the narrow gate will lead the way for others to follow. Someone is going to complete the race, it might as well be you and me.