"The Pursuit of Christlikeness"

“The Pursuit of Christlikeness”

 

 

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.  And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us live up to what we have already attained.         Philippians 3:15-16

 

The Apostle Paul was speaking to the believers in Philippi about their walk with Christ, and their steadfastness in being like Him in their daily lives.  He compared it to being like a race, where the runner is focused on WINNING the reward awaiting him at the end of the race. 

 

In verse ten, Paul says, “I want to know Christ---yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”   Thus being the result of the PURSUIT of CHRISTLIKENESS.

 

The “view of things” that the Apostle Paul was eluding to was, “PRESSING ON “toward the goal, and NOT giving up, but to PERSERVE in following the example set before us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

An attribute of a MATURE Christian is the desire to go on with Christ in the PURSUIT OF CHRISTLIKENESS.  In other words, being CHRISTLIKE in ALL of our thoughts, words and deeds, and NOT giving up when the going gets rough, but PRESS ON, with FAITH and TRUST in God to get you through to the end of your race and receiving the reward that awaits you.

 

Paul also had a message for those who disagreed with him.  He said, “If on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.”  God WILL make it CLEAR to you, but it is up to you what you do with the TRUTH that is made CLEAR.    It was also Paul’s desire that his fellow believers in Christ, live up to what they have already attained, which is their RIGHTEOUS position in Christ. 

 

If you have not given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are not in PURSUIT of CHRISTLIKENESS, but you are pursuing a path of destruction.  You are following Satan, and are headed straight to HELL, the place of unending torment, torture, agony, pain and defeat.  However you can get on the WINNING path that is headed straight to HEAVEN, a place of unending, peace, love and joy beyond belief, but you must come to the foot of the cross of Christ with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to God, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE, in Heaven making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a MATURE Christian in the PURSUIT of CHRISTLIKENESS, WINNING the RACE that is set before you, and receiving the reward that awaits you.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!