A Sense of Accomplishment!

To find a sense of enjoyment and SATISFACTION in our actions and labors in this life is good. While viewing life in general, Solomon said as much.
( Ecclesiastes 5:18) To be able to someday look back with pleasure on some of the things we have done helps remove regret that might otherwise be experienced. How sad to survey the years of life that have passed wondering what it was all for. Nevertheless, there is another side to being SATISFIED we do need to guard against.

Someone has pointed out… “It is good to be gratified but dangerous to be satisfied.”

Once Paul acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and allowed Him to become the Lord of His life, he was able to accomplish much good to the glory of God. As he neared the end of his life he could peacefully acknowledge …“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ( 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV) This allowed Paul to confidently look forward to what the Lord had in store for him. ( 2 Timothy 4:8) However, while focused on living and serving Paul maintained a perspective which kept him from becoming complacent in himself.

Writing to the church at Philippi Paul stated…
“(12) NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THIS OR AM ALREADY PERFECT, BUT I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
(13) Brothers, I DO NOT CONSIDER THAT I HAVE MADE IT MY OWN. But one thing I
do: forgetting what lies behind and STRAINING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD,
(14) I PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

Paul recognized that spiritually he had not yet arrived. Neither have we. To become SATISFIED with ourselves can cause us to stop growing toward what God desires us to be. At one point in Paul’s life he appeared to have depended upon his own righteousness. However, once he came to know Christ he realized it was a righteousness that came through faith in Christ and a righteousness from God that was needed. ( Philippians 3:9)

May we be encouraged by the pleasure we can find in viewing what we are able to be involved in and the accomplishments associated with our life. But at the same time let us continue striving to become all that God wants us to be by allowing Him to do His work in and through us. The day will come when we will arrive -- living in the eternal presence of our Lord.

Have a great day PRESSING ONWARD AND UPWARD!
Carl

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