Pressing On, Part One Take Hold of Jesus

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

The Apostle Paul had undertaken his missionary journeys across the known lands and had set the world upside down by the time he penned his letter to the church at Philippi. He had been taken up to the third heaven and seen paradise. He had heard things that no man was to ever repeat. Yet as he sat in prison in Rome, in the middle of his letter to the Philippians, he reveals to us the humility with which he lived his life and a direction for us as Christians to follow. Sitting in prison, even after accomplishing so much, he still was pressing on.

Paul would not live much beyond this time in his life. While there are no specific accounts of his demise, it is widely believed that shortly after his time in prison he was executed by the Roman Emperor Nero. It is important to note the language he uses in this verse. He is pressing on to take hold of that which Christ took hold of him for. There are several truths to examine. First of all, this assures us that God called us for a specific purpose and reason.

We all can remember when Christ took hold of our lives. Perhaps our life was out of control. Maybe we were at our end emotionally, mentally or physically. God had to reach down for a lot of us a mighty long way to take hold of our lives. Salvation alone however is not the end for us, but the beginning. Somewhere along the walk with God we can forget that God took hold of us for a reason; a purpose. There might be nothing sadder than unfulfilled purpose. We can find so many excuses to not step out of our comfort zones. God can walk us right to the edge of the cliff but it is up to our will to take the step of faith and walk off into the true calling God has placed on our lives. The calling of the prophet Jeremiah shows us some interesting truths:

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4-5

God has appointed you for His service as well. He made this decision before you were even born. Yet despite this, we can rationalize in our minds why we cannot fulfill the calling God has on our lives, as Jeremiah did.

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." Jeremiah 1:6

So it was with the prophets and so it goes today. We can say, "ah God, I just don't have the time to start that ministry" or "oh God, you know that I am not a gifted public speaker." Maybe you will think that you aren't smart enough or that you are too old. Whatever the reason you give yourself, the response God gave to Jeremiah still applies today:

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD - Jeremiah 1:7-8

The Lord is telling you today, "Don't say you do not have the time"; "Don't say that you are too old"; "Don't say you are not smart enough" for He is with you and will rescue you. Moses had a speech impediment and David was but a shepherd boy. Remember, it is not you, but God in you!

Secondly, this also confirms that there are many levels to the calling God has for you. God is always willing to take you to your next level; you just have to be willing. Paul was of advanced age at the time he wrote this epistle. He had undertaken three harrowing missionary journeys. In his own words:

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2Corinthians 11:23-28

Anyone else feel like they would be looking to retire after that resume? Paul could have been satisfied with his conversion and salvation but he wanted the next level Jesus would have for him. He could have been content with his first missionary journey, or even his second but he wanted that next level God had for him every time. He could have settled for the results of the third missionary journey or even accepted his situation in prison as being the end of his pursuits but this verse clearly shows that he still was not satisfied! He still wanted to take hold of that which God had taken hold of him! He still wanted to press on!

This is the desire that is so sorely lacking in our walks today. We can be assured of our salvation, tithe correctly, read the word, pray and worship God but are we pressing on? Do we truly seek that next level God has for us? Complacency is the enemy of progress. We can find a ministry that we are comfortable in and think that it is the end of our calling. What if Peter had called it quits after the crucifixion? What if David was satisfied with the slaying of Goliath? What would have happened if Paul had sat on his accomplishments after his first missionary journey? We must press on to take hold of what God has taken hold of us for!

The last truth in this verse deals with perfection. Even given the many accomplishments Paul had experienced and the visions from God almighty, he readily admits that he has not attained perfection. Yet despite this admission it has absolutely no effect on his desire to press on! Too often we can hold ourselves back because we think we are not worthy of the calling God has for us. Here is the news flash, none of us are worthy:

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; - Romans 3: 9-10

How sad it is that there are people who do not even accept the gift of salvation because they are seeking perfection first. I have witnessed to just such people; trying to be a perfect Christian before they even become a Christian. God takes you as you are and uses you as you are. The Prophet Isaiah defines our righteousness problem:

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away Isaiah 64:6

Our sins sweep us away but thank God for His sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary! Our righteousness is in Christ, not ourselves. Our perfection is in Christ, not ourselves. Our hope, abilities, and calling are in Christ and not ourselves! He took hold of your life for a reason beloved. He is telling you today the same thing He told Jeremiah thousands of years ago; He will be with you! He has more and more levels to your calling too if you will seek Him and avoid complacency. He wants you to press on and take hold of Him, so that He might show you what He has taken a hold of you for.

Anthony Wade July 18, 2008