WHERETO WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED
Philippians 3: 16: Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let
us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
From the time our children were
little until now when we gather at the dinner table there is always something
everyone can eat. When our children were
babies they could not eat the food that their mother and I could eat because
they were unable to chew it. Yet, when
we came to the table there was food provided suitable for the age of every
member of our family. As our first child
grew she was able to eat foods that her baby brother was unable to eat while
there was food her mother and I enjoyed which she was still unable to eat. Yet, there was food provided suitable for the
age of every member of our family.
It is the same way when the family of God assembles to partake of the
gospel feast. As the gospel is preached,
God fills the table with something for every member of his family. Those who
are newborn babies in faith cannot eat the same food as those more matured in
faith because they are unable to receive it.
Yet, in every word preached God provides food suitable for the faith of
every member at the table. As God grows one
child he is able to receive doctrine that another younger in faith cannot yet
receive while he himself cannot yet take in things that his more mature
brethren are made to rejoice in. Yet, in every word preached God provides food
suitable for the faith of every member of his family.
Now, think how unreasonable it would have been for one of my children to
refuse to come to the table because they were too young to eat the food of
those older than they or because there was food provided for the younger at the
table. Sometimes when a believer becomes critical of the message preached
and/or critical of their brethren this is the problem.
Like the apostle Paul, no believer has fully attained to a perfect
knowledge of Christ. But we press toward the mark, Christ, for the prize of
eternal glory with Christ. As we do, we expect God shall grow us, as well as
our brethren, in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If God has truly matured one in faith then he
has already attained to the knowledge that only God can grow his child. So then
rather than separating from a brother younger in faith who does not yet have
the same mind as he in some area of scripture, his assurance concerning that
brother will be that “God shall reveal
even this to you.” Never will he think he has outgrown any doctrine which
glorifies Christ which is needful to grow God’s babes. Likewise, when he hears preaching that he
himself may not yet understand, rather than reject God’s messenger and refuse
to come to the table with God’s family, his assurance concerning his own self
will be the same, “God shall reveal even
this to you.”
Therefore, whatever measure of grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus
that God has made us already attain unto, let us continue in the same measure
with our mind set on that whereunto we have already attained. As every believer
at God’s table does this then every brother and sister shall continue together
with one mind because no matter whereunto we have already attained our mind is
set on one and the same thing, Christ Jesus our Lord.