Training Ground

Goodmorning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from Philippians 3.

Philippians 3:11-15  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

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.

First of all, the Apostle teaches, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  The word “might” indicates that it hasn’t happened yet, but could.  It is used to indicate conditional or possible actions.  We haven’t passed judgment day yet.  Eventually every knee shall bow at judgment before the Lord Jesus Christ, but we are not there yet.  This world is a training ground, where we are learning, where we are transforming, and where we are undergoing a change, so that we are prepared for that day that we go to judgment before Him. Obviously we have great hope that we will be with Him in paradise, but our lives need to go through a change in order to get there.

Some people who profess to be Christian like to award eternal life to themselves.  That’s like obtaining the prize before you complete the race. If that was the case what would be the point of running?  Paul didn’t live his life like that.  He didn’t live as though he had already attained.  Some people want to judge themselves worthy of eternal life, but the truth is they are not in charge of making that call.  They choose to judge themselves as righteous, rather than preparing for the judgment that’s coming later.  It was the same attitude the proud Pharisee had, who exalted himself in religious pride.  People can be very lenient on themselves when they judge themselves, but when you are judged by others, that’s a different story.

Paul also didn’t live as though he was already perfect.  Perfect means that you never make a mistake.  If you think that you are perfect, you are not going to want to continue to improve yourself.  Why would you, because in your own mind, you are perfect already.  That’s one of the problems with feeling that you’re already perfect. You really don’t look inside your own life and locate things that need to change or be corrected so as to become even better.  A student might go in for a lesson in the band room thinking that they have got their part down perfectly, but then the band director finds some faults.  He points out things that they could improve on, so that the piece is even better than it was before.  Self-improvement is a daily thing but what prevents that from happening is thinking that you’re already perfect.

The Apostle didn’t count himself to have apprehended. The word apprehend actually means to understand something, or to completely grasp with your mind.  In elementary school a child learns two plus two equals four. Although they have apprehended that simple equation, there is still much more math to learn.  The problem is that once somebody feels that they have apprehended everything, they feel that there is nothing else they can learn.  When that happens, you essentially close yourself off to gaining any other knowledge or spiritual growth from the scriptures. Why study anymore if you think you know it all already? Paul didn’t count himself to have apprehended because like I just said, once you feel you have apprehended and you understand everything, that is the end of growth.

The Apostle focused on forgetting what was behind him.  At one time of his life he was persecuting churches, even throwing some Christians in prison.  He had done a lot of things that he regretted deeply and needed to forget the past when he converted to Christianity.  There is an old saying that yesterday is gone. There’s grace available through Christ Jesus so that we can come to Him and do His will.  We can’t focus on the wrongs that we have done in the past, but focus on a new relationship with Him and becoming obedient to His purpose for us.  That’s exactly what Paul did, instead of destroying churches he was now planting them.

Another point is that If you are constantly looking behind you, you can’t keep focused on what’s in front of you.  Try driving a car down the highway by only looking in the rearview mirror and see what happens.  You’ll drive right into the ditch. You have to keep focused on what’s in front of you. Paul didn’t live his life by looking behind him, but reaching forth for what was before him.  Christianity is about focusing on one day at a time.  We are to focus on the here and now with our eyes on the path directly in front of us.  How can you press forward if you’re constantly looking behind you? The apostle was running a race for the prize of eternal life.

1 Corinthians 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We are supposed to strive for perfection, walking in God’s perfect will.

Hebrews 13:20-21  Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:9  …..and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Remember, that although we are called to perfection, the Apostle Paul didn’t live as though he was perfect already, because once you get to that point, it leaves no room for any more growth.  He didn’t live as though he had already attained salvation, otherwise there would be no need to run the race.  We have the promise of eternal life, and the hope of being with Him in paradise someday, but obviously to attain that world, it requires doing the will of God, because he that does the will of God abideth forever.  We need to continue to grow in grace day by day, with the understanding that we haven’t crossed the finish line yet.  We need to prepare ourselves now for what is coming because this is just our….

…….Training Ground

Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow.  Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️

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