Antioch Agent

“Travel around the world, listen to the London Symphony Orchestra live, visit Old Trafford, drive a Lambo Countach, speaking fluent Chinese, make a decent amount of money, become a world class photographer … ” are just to name but a few of the dreams and ambitions the author of this post has allowed to pass his mind in the time of his earthly passage. Some achievable, some wishful thinking, some simply ridiculous … but unfortunately for this list it’s … earthly. Though some in and of itself may not be wrong, I’ll be honest to call a spade a spade.

What did the apostle Paul desire most in his life? The dear man got to travel much of the world but it was not for the euphoric earthly experience of a seasoned tourist. His was rooted in the advancement and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And instead of stamps on a passport or picking up neat little souveniers, here is what he picked up on his world travels …

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 “… in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;(26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

If that was what we’d know we’d be getting in our life, who would be the first to sign up for it. Not the apostle Paul, and he had the stripes and scars to prove it. He was on a single minded mission and no adversary or adversity would stop his zeal for the Lord. He was willing to face all that (and more) because his motivation was set clearly.

Behind every dream and aspiration are our motivations. So, we may ask … “What was the apostle Paul’s motivation?” I believe, one of the most clear statements of this is found in Philippians written while imprisoned :

Phi 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;
Phi 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Phi 3:12 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.
Phi 3:13 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,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Dear Christian (and i speak to myself), we can have our dreams our little goals… and some may and will be fun to accomplish and fulfill in this life. Our God is not a kill joy. For those who are blessed, some of them may be fulfilled in this one life we have. God does grant our life it’s little treats and sometimes it’s nice surprises. But let us keep our eyes on the true goal and let us not leave out the vital question … “Would I be willing to set my dreams and my pursuits for the pursuit of God’s high calling?” The battle scarred apostle had no place for self ambition, earthly pursuits. His was a wholehearted devotion to his God, so ought ours to be as we imitate him just as he imitated Christ.

Today, I was entitled to my wish as i blew out the candles on my cake. And my wish was simply this, though far from simple in it’s living out, “That i may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformable unto his death”.

This, I pray I live by the power and the grace of God … before He blows out my candle.