written study II Corinthians 11:23 to see Paul's trials and sufferings. He knows he has not arrived, at taining complete perfection. Quite the opposite was true. He warns against a theoretical perfectionism (vrs. 12). To profess sinless perfec tion shows great lack of meekness, humility, forebearance, and all oth er graces. Spiritual pride is a dead ly poison. We must not be satisfied with present attainments which prevent progress in spirituality. We will only find ourselves backsliding and giving up in despair. Proverbs 4:18 tells us that "The path of the just is as the shining light that shin- eth more and more toward the perfect day." The Prize The child of God needs always to persevere. Satan always opposes us and is never off the job. We must constantly keep the prize be fore us (Hebrews 12:1,2). We must guard against certain disastrous tendencies, one of which is when we lack the proper goal. The far mer in plowing a straight furrow will pick out something at the oth er end of the field to use as his marker to make straight lines. The apostle explained, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling." He was not going to look back. Likewise it is dangerous to set the wrong goal. Unfortunately, multitudes are doing this very thing today. They are sincere but they are grasping at straws. Do you remember the football player who got turned around through a hard tackle? He ran with the ball as though his life depended on it. The crowd yelled. He thought they were cheering him. In reality, they were trying to stop him. He was running toward the wrong Page 25
Think of acquiring the Lord of heaven and earth in whom are all treasures of joy and happiness. How can this be possible? It is not by tears of repentence, good works, or even by suffering the loss of all things. We gain Christ simply by accepting God's righteousness. A man may gain much in this life and then lose it. I read a story about four millionaires who told how they had amassed their for tunes. Almost before the ink was dry one of them had gone broke. Such is impossible for the one who gains Christ. Riches can be very disillusioning. There is no connection between money and happiness. The world is full of sad specimens who have tried to equate the two. Peace and joy become Paul's immediate in heritance when he came to know the Saviour. If a man does not gain Christ, he loses not only wealth and position but also his immortal soul. Man's only hope is Jesus. Endless Life We cannot help being impressed with Paul's dedication and absolute yieldedness to the will of Cod (3:10). He desired to know the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. The benefits of the Saviour's res urrection are found in I Corinthi ans 15:13-20. This is a very moving passage. We see how empty our faith would be without Christ be ing raised from the dead. Practi cally there avails for the saint the power of his endless life (Romans 1:4). It is the greatest power ever demonstrated and is ours for the taking. The fellowship of Christ's sufferings are shown in I Peter 4:13 as well as Romans 8:18. To read one of the most moving things ever
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