Philippians 3:12-4:1

The Christian life is not a take-it-easy, optional, half-pie, she’ll be right stroll in the park. It is a pursuit of Christ, of knowing Christ, of relationship with Christ, which all means heaven is my home, my heart is inclined to his and my attitude is aligning with Jesus’.

As committed Christ-followers, that we’ll get to the ‘finish line’ is not in question, it’s how we will, how we do, and why, why we must pursue Jesus that Paul addresses. The verses in Philippians 3:12-4:1 are something of a spiritual measure of our true love, devotion and pursuit of Christ. They remind us that if we love him, there is nothing else on this planet that receives our greatest affection; our/my greatest love is reserved for Christ. And that is evidenced by my commitment to serve him and others; to dispense of my rights and what I think are my priorities in deference for giving away everything I want to do, for what Christ wants to do in me and through me, because my citizenship is not of this world, but is in heaven.

Paul’s teaching addresses any misunderstanding that when a person comes to faith in Christ it means they have automatically “arrived” spiritually. As if there’s no more to do?
We can easily fall into being static, the “easily satisfied religionist”. Caught up seemingly doing all the right things, giving all the appearance/s of following Christ, living a good life, when in fact our lives far from reflecting what being Christian actually means. How we get to the end matters!

Despite his total commitment to Jesus Paul’s Christian walk was still in process. He was always humble enough to say there was always room for continued growth. It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been a Christian, 5 minutes or 50 years, our thinking should never be, “I don’t need to grow any more”, I’ve made it, I can stop ‘running now’. God wants us to complete the course. We strain, we work hard, and we press on till death parts us from this place!

When we depart this life we will be with him forever in a new and glorious life, where our worship and joy will never cease. This is the great promise, the goal of citizenship in heaven that drives and motivates all we do in this Christian life. Therefore as citizens of heaven, we long for, we pray for and we prepare for, his coming again.

Be certain now today, that you are living in right relationship with God, submitted to him, so that when he comes, he does so as your Savior. Stand firm in the Lord. Not loose, swayed or influenced by worldly ways and sinful habits, not deviating from the truth of God’s word, but focused on our goal: “to know Christ”.