No Perfection Until Heaven

 

                                  

Many years ago, a promising Greek artist named Timanthes was under the instruction of a well-known tutor. After several years, the young painter created a wonderful portrait. He was so thrilled with what he had painted that he sat day after day gazing at his work. One morning, however, he was horrified to discover that his teacher had deliberately ruined his painting.

Angry and in tears, Timanthes ran to him and asked why he had destroyed his cherished possession. The wise man replied, "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. It was an excellent piece of art, but it was not perfect. Start again and see if you can do even better." The student took his advice and produced a masterpiece called "Sacrifice of Iphigenia," regarded by some as one of the finest paintings of antiquity.

In his letter to the Philippians Paul wrote “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 (Phil. 3:12-13). Paul had been converted for at least 25 years when he wrote Philippians. He is one of the outstanding believers of all times. No one ever had so wonderful experience of visions and revelations like him (Acts 9.3-9; 16:9; 18:9; 22:18; 27:23, 2Cor 12:1-6).

If anyone could think he had arrived, it would have been Paul. But, his honest admission was “not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect”.  He had not yet attained the goals stated in Philippians 3:10. He had not yet come to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings and conformity to His death” in a complete and total way.

He had come to experience in some degree the power of Christ’s resurrection surging through his being. He had participated in Christ’s suffering and was radiating the likeness of Christ to some degree. He had not done any these to the fullest measure. The potential he possesses had not been fully realized. He was still in being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:16). He had not come to the place in his Christian life where his spiritual growth had been completed.  He was still clay in the potters hands (Jer. 18:1-6).

Paul's says “but I follow after that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus”. As he was going down to Damascus to persecute Christian, nothing was further from his mind than the thought of becoming a Christian. But as he got near Damascus the Lord Jesus apprehended him, the way a policeman apprehends a man. Imagine Jesus laying his invisible hand on Paul’s shoulder and whispering, “You are now mine, you no longer belong to your old master”.

Why did Christ apprehend Paul? First, Jesus clearly stated to Ananias what would be Paul’s mission from then on. Jesus said “this man is my instrument to proclaim my name to the gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16). Paul was now an instrument in his hands. He would take the gospel to the gentiles as it made its way to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).  

Jesus wanted to turn Paul from all his old ways and pursuits and put him on quite a different path. Paul desired that the power of resurrection would bring back to life every area of that sin had destroyed. He desired to become more and more like Christ and would not take rest until he became like him in all respects. He would echo the psalmist words  “I shall be satisfied when I awake with your likeness” (Ps. 17:15).

Paul was apprehended and placed on the path of life. The “path” refers to the way we live and what we decided to do with our limited time on earth. Proverbs 3:6 commands us to submit to God in all our ways and he will make your path straight. God will make known to us the path of life (Ps. 16:11). His word should be a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. The entrance of God’s word gives light and understanding (Ps 119:105, 130).

It’s not possible to understand God’s nature, his will and his ways fully in this life (Rom. 11:33-34). However as we study his word, the light shines brighter and brighter (Prov. 4:18) as we approach the full light; Heaven is the place of perfect understanding (1 Cor. 13:9-12). In this life we can only do what Job did “my feet have closely followed his steps, i have kept his way without turning aside (Job 23:11). In Psalm 37:23-24 there is a wonderful promise “the lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him, though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand”.

Jesus apprehended Paul to make him a witness. The Lord wanted to reveal to Paul his grace, his love, his power and all the wonders which the Holy Spirit works among men. He expected Paul to go and tell others about what he had seen and experienced. Those who hear from the lips of a witness get convinced. These people would be led to believe in his love and saving power.

In psalm 145:3-20 David writes about some observations he had made about God. He wrote “Great is the Lord worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends his works to another; they tell of his mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of his majesty. They tell of the power of his awesome works. They celebrate his abundant goodness and joyfully sing of his righteousness.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises. He upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. He is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries and saves them. The Lord watches over those who love him but all the wicked he will destroy.  After observing all that David made a decision “I will meditate of on your wonderful works. I will proclaim your good deeds, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Finally Paul was apprehended, that he might be the instrument of the salvation of many souls. In the olden days, when a man wanted pigeons, he would take his dove and spray its wings all over with perfume. He then released the sweet smelling bird up into the air and it flew off.  Other pigeons followed it as it came back home, it brought them to its master. You were not saved to go to Heaven alone; those who smell the perfume of your righteousness will flock around you and fly with you heavenward.

Paul never forgot the memorable vision he had on the way to Damascus. He still remembered it vividly many years later (Acts 22:6-10, 26:12-18). He told King Agrippa “I was not disobedient to the vision from Heaven. I told those in Damascus, Judea and the gentiles that they should repent. They should turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. God has helped me to this day, so I stand here and testify to the small and great alike” (Acts 26: 19-22).

 Paul served the Lord with great humility in midst of severe testing. He considered his life worth nothing to him, his only aim was to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus had given him (Acts  20:19-24).  As he looked at the result of his work, the large cities which had become permeated with the gospel, the flourishing Churches which looked to him as their founder, the Epistles which he had written, surely he might have counted himself to have apprehended.

He could have felt he had done enough and taken retire. Yet he said “not yet!” He would not sit down to rest; he was still going to reach after something which was yet beyond him. He was conscious of imperfection and still wanted to do more. Paul knew he would not obtain sinless perfection in this life. There is no way to be sinless while we are in these bodies. That day for all of us will be when we receive our glorified bodies.

Again in spite of all God’s wonderful provision, we shall never get to a point where we can say we have done all that there is to be done for the Lord. God does not want us to be content with our accomplishments. He wants us to reach even higher levels of service and Christ-likeness. As long as you are in the world forget what you have done and do more.