| What is "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"? It seems right to say that the high calling is something that very few have attained to. Paul said that he had not attained to it. He said "I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus." I suspect that he said this out of a posture of true, God inspired humility, the same humility that John the Baptist exhibited when he said he wasn't the Elijah prophesied, coming to prepare the way of the Lord. Humility is a sure measure of an individuals' level of apprehension of the high calling. The level of true humility in a man shows the depth of the work God has wrought in him. This is the condition of a man who would rather die than receive praise for God's work in him or through him. This cannot be pretense or even a desire, it is only the result of deep painful workings of God. I know by my level of pride how much work needs to be done in me. I know what Paul meant when he proclaimed "But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me". It's all a matter of the depth of salvation you are driven to seek, to "work out", or cultivate. For me to quit now would leave a job that, in my estimation, has barely commenced. What depths of glory did Paul discern that inspired him to write that he had not attained the high calling? We read his writings and surmise that this man must have been about as close to fullfilling it as anyone since Moses. It was not sufficient for one who had tasted the glory of the coming Kingdom to rest on his laurels. He might have, but what arrested him? What had taken such hold of him that after he had counted all of his earthly accomplishments as dung continued to urge him on to a greater and greater devotion? Do we say to ourselves that we too have tasted of the heavenly realm? How could this be so if we are not driven like Paul was driven? Is it not perfect truth to say that the majority of "Christians" are content? I have had brief tastes of the glory of the Lord and I cannot encourage you strongly enough, press in my brothers, my sisters, we have hardly begun. He is waiting for the called ones to press in, to press through into the heavenly realm that we might, as Joshua and Caleb, bring the fruit of the Kingdom to the people of God and to the world. Yes, there will be many like the children of Israel who will not believe even though the fruit is evidenced before them. There will also be many who will. What remains for us is to enter in, take ahold with all the faith we possess, and believe.... until the heavens open and the glory of God comes. |