One Step Up -- And Two Steps Back :
Progress is Perfection
“When I look at myself I don't see, The man I wanted to be. Somewhere along the line I slipped off track, I'm caught movin' one step up and two steps back”
The apostle Paul says, "let us rejoice in the hope of God’s glory, not
ours. Additionally, we must also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that our
current hardship produces patient endurance. In endurance, proven character is
developed, and in this character, hope and a confident assurance of our salvation results." This brings us back to God’s glory. It’s a holy progression.
To quote Springsteen: “When I look at myself,
I don't see, the man I wanted to be. Somewhere along the line I slipped off
track. I'm moving one step up and two steps back." Don’t we spend our whole
lives trying to move up a notch? To "get ahead"?
Progress is measured in so many different
ways, but our tendency is to focus always on the goal: the quota, the grade, the
sale, the child, the bonus, the end-zone, the accomplishment. The question is
whether we can adjust our internal "success-meter" to focus on the great amount
of progress made in learning, growing, changing, and adjusting to the inevitable
ups and downs of life; instead of comparing and despairing in the futile
illusion of being perfect, or reaching the “Goal”. Truth is, progress is
perfection.
Instead of calculating our net worth, or
assessing our self-righteousness on a lofty standard, could it be possible that
God blesses us with adversity, teaches us through hardship, and honors our work
of survival and resiliency? In light of eternity, earthly triumphs do not
seem so valuable, and seeking perfection becomes narcissistic. Are these truths passed down to our children, or do parents constantly strive to protect them? What seems natural could actually be holding them back.
Paul also wrote that God wants us to focus on
spiritual matters and rejoice in our suffering; even though we spend a lifetime
seeking comfort. God promises that anyone who does what pleases Him will live
forever; but we say that money isn’t everything – it’s the only thing. Man seeks
pleasure, while God gives wisdom (through adversity).
Spiritual currency can be spent throughout eternity, but our earthly bank accounts are devaluing quickly. If we are broken, dependent,
obedient followers of Jesus, our trials are heavenly blessings, because
they cause us to draw near to Him. A christian must value Christ's sacrifice, and God's word more than their own timetable of priorities, but this is difficult.
Otherwise, our comfort, wealth, and ease of
living pushes us away from a Godly life, into a habit of choosing things, or following people outside of God’s
will. It’s counter-intuitive but clearly biblical, that we are most fulfilled when we empty ourselves. (see Philippians 3: 7-8, and Mark 9:35)
God wants us close to him, in
a relationship. Sometimes he uses discipline to open our eyes, recognize
our weakness, and turn to Him for help. We can be following the wrong leaders, or accepting a counterfeit agenda as we navigate through our lives, so what do we do? It's one-step-at-a-time: first recognize the need, then accept the solution which is outside of ourselves, and then take up the vision (cross) of God, and follow.
We think He approaches with a warrant for our arrest, but God is serving us
with an invitation to a massive party, celebrating His glory alone and not the
world. Accepting this also requires we re-focus, re-calibrate, re-define progress, and re-frame setbacks as opportunities. ##
Blog post ©Mark H. Pillsbury
