“…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.” Philippians 3:12
The spirit of the Apostle Paul was that of a thoroughbred. There was nothing less than being wholly committed, and determined, to reach for the highest that God offered him in Christ. He was, by his own admission, a soldier, a runner, a worker, an ambassador for Christ, an apostle, “…not of men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead.” (Gal. 1:2) That which daily motivated him, and empowered him to go on was the possibility of knowing Christ in great measure. His goal was God Himself, and as the hymnwriter put it: “…not joy nor peace, nor even blessing , but Himself, my God.” He knew the Lord’s ways by which this could be realized. And again the hymnwriter captured the matter in its utter, and yet simplest meaning, “…’Tis His to lead me there, not mine but His, at any cost dear Lord, by any road.” Here is a man, a sinner saved by grace, a very cultured man, and one with a great intellect. And yet, he would declare that he was the least of all the Apostles, the chief of all sinners. His grasp of the gospel was such that he embraced his union with Christ by faith, His death, burial, and resurrection. T. Ryder captured this attitude when he wrote: “Buried with Christ, and raised with Him too; What is there left for me to do? Simply to cease from struggling and strife, Simply to walk in newness of life. Glory be to God.” Paul went beyond being crucified with Christ to that attitude of mind and heart by which he would say, “…Christ lives in me…and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) Paul’s life was Christ, not just truth and a vision. It was a Person, the founder of faith, the essence of eternal Life. For him to live was Christ, and to die was gain. In light of all that was true of Paul, and his life in Christ, how did he daily live a balanced, and effective Christian life?
We see that he became successful in this delicate balance by what he declared: “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Phil. 4:11,12) How did Paul learn to live in this manner? Very simply put, Christ taught him. Paul was never perfectly, absolutely full, nor was he absolutely empty. His was a life of pursuit, one that was similar to that of David, of Daniel, of the great men and women of the Bible who are numbered in that great cloud of witnesses mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. The great, and singular pursuit of all, once that which was of heaven was perceived, and tasted of, was Christ Himself. This is that one who was in the Garden of Eden, whose voice could be heard walking in the cool of the day. This is that One whose powerful voice was heard from Mount Sinai, that the people of Israel should learn not to sin, but to fear God, their highest blessing. This is the One whose very fleshly feet trod the dusty roads and trails of Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, teaching the multitudes concerning eternal Life, and working miracles among them to confirm His heavenly calling. This is the One who was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, the only Savior of men. He it was who revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus, on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Paul’s pursuit of Christ began that day, never ceasing, always deepening.
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.