Attitude that keeps the pursuit going

Paul writes in Philippians 3: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

[11] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
[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.
[13] 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,
[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

When he says, “But this one thing I do,” he’s saying, “There’s nothing else in life that gets in the way of this and that’s to press toward the mark for the prize,” explains Richard Jordan.

If you ever think you’ve gotten there, you’ll quit pressing. If you ever think you’ve arrived at all there is to arrive at . . .  one of the things I've seen as I’ve lived through life is you come to these little “Aha” moments where you mature. 

The thing you realize in that is, “Wow, I can’t believe I was so dumb back over there,” and then you think, “Wow, you know there’s more out there for me to attain to.”

I’ve come to realize that if I think I’ve gotten smart now, I thought that ten years ago and look how dumb I was ten years ago. If I think I’m smart now, ten years from now I’m going to look back and think this was  dumb, so I better not get cocky and think I’ve gotten there, because as soon as you do that, you quit and you get prideful, you get arrogant, you get self-satisfied and you get self-justifying and then it all hits the wall.

The attitude that keeps the pursuit going is, “I’m not there yet, but I’m on the way.” Verse 15: [15] 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.

You think, “Well, then Paul thought he was perfect,” but back in verse 12 he says, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.”

Well, how can I be perfect and not yet be perfect? That’s the old “now not yet” thing. That’s the position in Christ and my practice in life. That’s my standing in Christ and my state in life. That’s my identity and my walk; my experience.

The word perfect; let’s be sure we understand that word.  II Timothy 3: [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It doesn’t mean sinless perfection in your practice. You have that in Christ. This is talking about your walk. It doesn’t mean you’re never going to make a mistake. If you never made a mistake in your walk, you’d never have anything else left to learn.

So, perfection, in the context of the walk of a Believer, is the idea of being throughly equipped—completely equipped. You’re completely furnished; everything you need you have in Christ Jesus; you have it in the Scripture.