The Long Ride
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB
Will perfect it – How long will God have to work on us before we arrive at His intended destination? How long will it be before we are complete (that’s actually the Greek word here, namely, epitelesei from epi + telos, “to carry out, to complete”)? According to Paul, we can have confidence that God will not stop until we get there. He will continue to work on us, with us and through us until we are finished with the changes. How long will that take? Until the day of Yeshua HaMashiach? And when is that? Oh, when he returns. In other words, God has no intention of halting the process of correction and improvement until the return of the king. So you and I are in for a very long ride.
This is good news—and not so good news. It’s good news because we often feel as if we aren’t getting anywhere. We feel as if we keep going around and around the same issues. We wonder just how much progress we really make. Or we look back and realize how long it has taken to get where we are—and how far we still have to go. The good news is that God doesn’t quit. He will keep going as long as it takes. While we get discouraged, He doesn’t. He has an objective in mind for us and He is going to see it through, no matter what. The good news is that even with all the ups and downs we are still on the journey toward the goal. So hang on. Keep going. It’s all part of the plan.
The bad news is that it will take the rest of your life—and then some. After all, unless the day of the Messiah’s return happens while you are still breathing, you should not expect that God will quit working on you just because you’re dead. Sure, you get a little R&R, but there is still more to do until you wake up. God is active even if you are asleep so you can expect to see changes when the general resurrection comes. Maybe that’s also good news. God’s plans for you don’t really end at the grave. You take some time off but He keeps going. When you get back into action, He will have already been there ahead of you, preparing what comes next.
What does epiteleo mean for each of us? It means today’s highs and lows aren’t the end of the story. It means we can push through the worst of times, celebrate the best of times, and still know that it won’t be boring after we’re done with this part. It means that if we don’t get it all done now, there is still time to do things later. All we need to do today is what we can do today. It means “this too shall pass,” and we can keep going, knowing that He is the constant in life, the unfailing touchstone of our being. Paul was entirely confident (fully persuaded), that what God starts He finishes. We might think there is no way we can accomplish all God wants for us, but He is perfectly able even when we can’t imagine how.
We’ll get there. “Now, with the help of God, I may become who I am.” Soren Kierkegaard.
Topical Index: epiteleo, epitelesei, carry out, perfect, finish, Philippians 1:6
Skip, thank you for this. This is so important that I want to be sure I understand what you are saying. There are two thoughts that could be at odds: “He will continue to work on us, with us and through us until we are finished with the changes” or “God has no intention of halting the process of correction and improvement until the return of the king”. Does God keep working until the return of the king (and get as far as he gets) or does the king not return until God has completed his work in each of us? And who is “us”–all people or just those who had a saving faith in Jesus before physical death?
I just read a very convincing new book called “Heaven’s Doors: Wider Than You Ever Believed!” by George Sarris and I wonder how it fits (or does not fit) into what you are saying. Sarris argues that a better reading of the words in Scripture describing hell do not say that hell is eternal–it just may be a very, very, very long time. He suggests that God keeps pursuing us for as long as it takes to turn us toward him. In Sarris’s view, the purpose of hell is redemption not punishment. He claims this was the majority view of the church for the first 500 years.
Perhaps the key question is who is “us” in your view. If “us” is only those who have a saving faith in Jesus at physical death, then I think what you are saying is consistent with the mainstream Evangelical view (i.e., that you must having a saving faith in Jesus at physical death or be judged to eternal damnation in hell). If “us” is everyone, then you may be closer to Sarris’s perspective.
Thanks brudder–I really value your insights!
Thanks so much! A word of encouragement I needed to hear, to keep going.
Hello Skip and others,
My response:
Thanks and halleluyah, hallelujah, or alleluia!
David Russell
Interesting to read your interpretation of our existence after death. No absent from the body and present with the Lord as taught by many main stream denominations.
Wouldn’t this work include also the completion of His bride FOR that coming: that wedding? That is a corporate work which is not only accomplishing salvation OF individuals from their individual fracture (singularity is the essence of disfunction, after all) , but saving them INTO that Body. (unity of plurality)
I think we can expect to see a totally united and functioning Bride (kingdom) waiting and ready to greet that Groom. Individual salvation is perfected (completed) when the whole kit and caboodle is saved (connected). Saved from sin (fracture) is saved INTO function, after all, and function is never a singular reality.