Pursue Your Passion (Philippians 3:12)

 Philippians 3:12 says, "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."

The imagery presented in this verse, is that of a race, where every effort and exertion is required to successfully achieve the goal of wining. There are no passive words used here concerning the runner, and the only thing that matters is to win. Second place is not an option, nor is "a good effort". Anything but first place is to lose completely everything of value and significance.

There is a word play in the Greek that conveys a  dramatic meaning of this verse, that is lost in the English translation.

ATTAINED - This word is translated 20 different ways in the KJV, and only here is it translated "attained".

In all but 24 instances, it is translated either:

1) receive (133 times) [passive], or

2) take (106 times) [active]

The idea here is to have obtained, and is in the active , aggressive sense of the word.

PERFECT - This word, and it's various forms, can mean "mature", but the meaning here is that of something that is "complete" or "accomplished", where nothing can ever be added to it, nor can anything be ever taken away.                                                                                                                                                                              

  This is the word that Jesus used when He cried, "It is finished!". There is nothing that you or I can ever do to make the salvation accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His shed blood, any better than it already is. Nothing we ever do in the flesh will ever add to, or take away from, what He accomplished in the Spirit. You are already "complete" in Him, nothing missing; nothing lacking; nothing can be added to you to make you any better than you already are!

FOLLOW AFTER - This word conveys an intense pursuit. In fact, this word is used the overwhelming majority of times, with reference to persecution, and trying to aggressively, and forcibly pursue someone to do bodily harm to them. It is a very strong word pregnant with visual imagery.  

APPREHEND - This is a compound word, composed of a prefix, that originally meant, " from above to below", or in the simplest sense, "completely". This prefix is an intensifier, that magnifies the meaning of the base word to which it joins itself.

The base word is that which the KJV translates earlier in the verse as "attained". There are two uses of this word in the text, one in reference to Christ Jesus, and the other in reference to us. The second use is passive conveying the meaning of something that is already an accomplished fact, whereas the first use is active; aggressive, speaking of that which has not yet been totally realized.

The meaning of the second use of the word is that Christ has completely taken hold of us. When applied to the imagery of a race, we are the prize that He not only aggressively pursued, but He has in fact taken complete possession of. We are the pearl of great price to Him; we are the treasure in the field [the world] that He gave everything for that He might eternally possess as His own.

The first use of the word describes the fact that Paul had not yet, despite his exploits in Christ, completely and fully taken hold of the reason that Christ had taken hold of him. He was still aggressively pursuing to completely obtain, the reason and purpose that Christ captured him as His own.

Therefore he states that he hasn't taken hold of the total purpose of Christ in his life, but he is actively pursuing to completely possess his purpose in Christ.

This too is our great adventure, to pursue our passion in Christ and discover not only who we are in Him, but to completely and totally come to the realization of our intended purpose in the kingdom, and fulfill that purpose!

Everyone, even those who have not yet embraced their destiny, have a God given passion, that is designed to be fulfilled in Christ. It may be a life long obsession in the arts; sciences; business; speaking; building things; or numerous other diverse callings as varied as the people who possess them. You are called to greatness, fulfill that greatness by fully possessing the reason that Christ has fully possessed you!

Remember, that the full impact of Paul's life not only happened after his life, in the distribution of the New Testament. but continues to change lives today through the scriptures written by him, through the Holy Spirit. Pursue your passion, and let the ripples of your life impact others for eternity!

You are God's Best and God's best is yours.