We Are Not Not Home, Yet.

Philippians 3:12–16 KJV 1900

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Introduction

Charles Spurgeon spoke of a soldier who lay on his dying bed during the war, and they heard him say, ‘Here!’ The medics rushed to his side to ask him what he wanted, and he put up his hand, as if to shush them and said: ‘Hush! they are calling the roll in heaven, and I am answering to my name’; and he whispered: ‘Here!’ once more and he was gone.

Roll call for us has not been called.

The Gospel got ahold of you long before we had a grasp on it.

1 John 4:19 KJV 1900

We love him, because he first loved us.

We should be trying to get a hold of what has got a hold of us.

Philippians 3:12 KJV 1900

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Paul stated here that he hasn’t attained. What a statement for us sitting here to consider as we reflect on our own spiritual maturity.

Dwight Moody once told of when he saw what is called a sensitive plant. He happened to breathe on it, and suddenly it drooped its head; he touched it, and it withered away. He said humility is as sensitive as that; it cannot safely be brought out on exhibition. A man who is flattering himself that he is humble and is walking close to the Master, is self-deceived. It consists not in thinking meanly of ourselves, but in not thinking of ourselves at all. Moses wist not that his face shone. If humility speaks of itself, it is gone.

1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV 1900

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

The mind of Christ is the goal of maturity.

Philippians 2:5 KJV 1900

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Work is the process of maturity.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 KJV 1900

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

For better or worse looking back makes you unfit for today.

Philippians 3:13 KJV 1900

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,

Looking bad inevitable leads off course, most often to a complete 180.

Luke 9:62 KJV 1900

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Looking back is costly

Luke 17:32 KJV 1900

Remember Lot’s wife.

Forward is the only path in God’s economy.

Exodus 14:15 KJV 1900

And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

God’s call is way over the head of our fleshly ability

Philippians 3:14 KJV 1900

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The story is told of “Mr. Edward Riddle, an aged Christian in Hull, remarked, a few days before his death, to one who was present, ‘Some may suppose that a person at my time of life, and after so long making a profession of religion, has nothing to do but to die and go to heaven; but I find that I have as much need to go to God through Christ, as a sinner, at the last hour as at the beginning. The blood of Christ, the death of Christ, his victory and fulness, are my only ground of faith, hope, and confidence; there is the same need of him to be the Finisher of my faith as there was for him to be the Author of it.’ ”

“He who thinks that he has attained everything, hath nothing” [Chrysostom]

Our calling is a “high calling” and a “heavenly calling”; and if we live for this world, we lose the prize that goes with our high calling.-Warren W. Wiersbe

Our thought process needs to be onward and upward.

Philippians 3:15 KJV 1900

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Being able to understand things is an evidence of maturity

1 Corinthians 14:20 KJV 1900

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

Our actions and our attention should reflect our future maturity.

Philippians 3:16 KJV 1900

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

God is the judge and He has already tried me found me guilty, sentenced me to death, and executed me in Christ on the cross.

Isaiah 49:4 KJV 1900

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: Yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, And my work with my God.

God sees me and knows me better than I will ever know Him here on earth.

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV 1900

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Conclusion

The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.-Phillips Brooks

There is no reason to be discouraged of where you are in your Christian maturity, but there is even less reason to be proud of where you are. Wherever you find yourself on your spiritual journey lets determine to strive to grow more than we have and more than we think we can.