Pursuing Christ

Where are we headed?

For many the election this past week is a reason to celebrate. For others, the election results point in the opposite direction. I’ve spoken with both types of people since Tuesday.

Where do we go from here?

Paul was writing to a people who had no say in who governed them, and whose opinions were never sought out by pollsters.

Many of those to whom he was writing were slaves - not just ‘slaves of Jesus’ as Paul often described himself, but slaves - literally owned by another human being.

How could these people face a future of uncertainty and confusion?

Knowing that your life may very well depend on whether your master is in a good mood or not makes predictions challenging.

READ Phil 3:12-21

PURSUE

Twice in vs 12-14 Paul writes of pursuing. 1st in vs 12 English Bibles translate the Greek like this:

“Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12, HCSB)

In the original language the English phrase ‘every effort to take hold of…’ is but one word: better translated, ‘pursue.’

Then again in vs 14 Paul writes:

Philippians 3:14 NLT

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

The English words ‘press on’ are but one word in the original language: pursue.

To ‘pursue’ that which for which we’ve been taken hold if, and to pursue the prize promised by God’s heavenly call require several decisions:

a. Honest Assessment

Of all people the believers in Philippi knew Paul would be the one they assumed that had everything all together!

Yet, Paul was always honest. In his letter to the believers in Corinth he wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:9 HCSB

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

To believers in Ephesus he wrote,

Ephesians 3:8 HCSB

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of the Messiah,

And to Timothy, Paul shared this:

1 Timothy 1:15 HCSB

This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” —and I am the worst of them.

To the believers in Philippi he acknowledges that he is no where near where he would like to be.

This is startling. He claims to be am ‘apostle’ one who has specifically been anointed by Jesus.

Yet, he identifies himself as just another saved sinner!

b. letting go the past

How many of us are still allowing the adversary to define us by our past?

I used to be…I was…I struggled with…

Or maybe you’ve heard these words…

Someone like you can’t…You are from the same place I am…how can you claim to be different?

Paul chooses to deliberately let go the past!

c. choosing a preferred future

Paul describes where he is aiming:

Philippians 3:14 HCSB

I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

What is your ultimate aim?

Imitate

I’m not confident enough in my own life to say with Paul - ‘Imitate me.’

But let’s look more closely at Paul’s intent here.

One author explains,

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament 5. The Word Group in the New Testament.

Walk as I do, but it also means (and primarily): Recognise my authority, follow what I say, be obedient. Imitation here is not repetition of a model. It is an expression of obedience.

Paul uses the word ‘imitate’ in other places in his letters - to the Corinthians, in his letter to the Thessalonians, and believers in Ephesus.

Paul isn’t calling for people to do as he does, but rather for people to examine carefully his lifestyle, listen to his teachings, and follow his instruction.

We might consider Paul a coach - one who comes alongside a group of people seeking to accomplish certain tasks, or a team set on winning an athletic contest.

The coach never expects each player, each individual to do or be what the coach is. However the coach can and does demonstrate the kind of activities that will lead to the completion of the task.

Paul compares he and his associates with a group whose example is to be ignored -

Philippians 3:18–19 HCSB

For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things,

c. Anticipate

Has anyone here been diagnosed with myopia? What about nearsightedness? (They are the same thing!)

Believers often suffer from myopia - see vs. 19.

The cure:

Philippians 3:20–21 HCSB

but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.

To ‘eagerly wait…’ is like the way many people anticipate the Christmas season.

Not only are we as believers to live in anticipation of what is to come, as Paul reminds us the entire creation exists in this posture:

Romans 8:18–23 HCSB

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility —not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it —in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits —we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

A 20th-century journalist named Sydney J. Harris once said, “Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better.”

Hallock, Mark. God's Not Done with Your Church: Finding Hope and New Life through Replanting (The Replant Series) (p. 77). Acoma Press. Kindle Edition.

Wanting things to remain the same, but only get better!

It cannot happen.

If we are to see change, things cannot remain the same.

Take a moment now to answer the questions I began with:

Where do we go from here?

Are you content with the way your life is now?

I’m not asking about your economic circumstance, the condition of your home.

Are you content with where you are as a follower of Jesus?

Three words of advice:

PURSUE

If Paul honestly could say he had not ‘arrived’ none of us can claim to be where God desires us to be.

Pursue - let go the past; choose God’s future

Imitate

Obey all God has given you. Be prepared to obey what He reveals to you. Even if you have to go it alone.

Anticipate

Paul once concluded a prayer with this benediction:

Ephesians 3:20–21 HCSB

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God has more in store than we can think or imagine.

We need to let go the past, hold on to what we know, and lean into God’s future - regardless of the cost.

Who is willing to go with me?