The Process. Philippians 3:12. “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.” When a believer is aware that they are a visible, public representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, we begin to understand our limitations and how much we fall short in our own strength of being what we should be. We know we are complete in the sense of what we will be when our souls, spirits, and bodies are spiritually whole when the Lord comes for us. That will be “complete salvation.” The word “perfect” in this verse means mature or, in this context, finished rather than flawless, as in sinless perfection. Just as an athlete strives to reach the goal, a servant of God makes every effort to “grab hold” of God in the way God laid hold of them.
The Lord Jesus unexpectedly caught hold of Paul on the road to Damascus. Similarly, He wanted to surprise him into discovering the true purpose of his life. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” The resources he needed to achieve that goal were provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, so that with energy and focus, he would set aside everything that could be harmful or hindering.
We should not be distracted from life's ultimate goal, which is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, to be with Christ and become like Him, sharing in the blessings of eternal fellowship with our Lord and Savior. Events happening around us in this world, self-centered ambition, personal satisfaction that pleases us, and external pressures that could weaken our faith are some ways that can cause us to fall short of the prize we should pursue.
God began working on me long ago. Actually, it started when I first became aware of sin and understood that sin separated me from God. Although I was taught biblical Christianity from my earliest memories, I must admit I didn’t fully grasp what it truly meant to be a child of God. Then, the Holy Spirit’s striving began. God is God, and when He awakened my lost soul, He kept working in many ways to draw me to Himself. Before long, I realized I sinned because I was a sinner, not just because of the sins I committed. It was then I confronted my lost condition, repented of my sins, and received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. I was deeply moved by His love and genuinely wanted to please and live for Him. That’s when I began this journey to heaven.
It was as if there was a starting line when I began running a race that would span many miles and years of life. It is not a competition, but a course unique to each person, where the goal is not to win while others lose. Uphill and downhill, rough and smooth, tears and smiles—this life in Christ I have lived for over 70 years has been a joyful struggle. Depending on how God chooses to design the course before me, the pace at which I travel is my own. It is my sincere desire to create for His glory what He has foreordained to be.
I'm still on the run, but I’m not trying to escape the road that extends far beyond my view. I enjoy how I experience it in many ways, mainly because I know it's the path He wants me to take. It’s a privilege to be involved in God’s work and see evidence of benefits and blessings from my efforts for His kingdom. Now that I'm on the home stretch, I don’t know how many more twists and turns lie ahead. Each day, I encounter new experiences and lessons, and I have to pause longer to catch my breath.
Sometimes, I think I catch a glimpse of the goal line just ahead, but when I get there, it’s only a twist in the road. Those quick views of the future make the journey interesting and motivate me to get out of bed each morning with the hope that maybe this is the last day I will run this race. So, I’d better make the most of it by starting early and looking for ways to do the will of the Father. By God’s grace and the strength He provides, I’ll keep running. He’s designed the course to suit me each day. When I reach the goal and finish this earthly race, I will praise Him for every step along the way.