Probably all of us would agree that we are not more committed to the Lord than Paul was. We might think that such a person would obviously be a candidate for the resurrection. But Paul did not think so:
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)
I can certainly say, with Paul, that I want the power of Christ’s resurrection. But what about the next phrase: the fellowship of His sufferings?
In World War II, I served as a Nursing Orderly in the British Royal Army Medical Corps, and sometimes I had to deal with soldiers who had been through battle conditions. I came to see that when men go through a really tough time together, they are bonded to one another in a way that nothing can break. I think that is why Paul said that I might know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings. He wanted to be bonded with Jesus in a way that nothing could break.
Then in verses 12-14 Paul said:
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul was a mature apostle with a record of tremendous successes. Still, he did not consider that he had already attained the resurrection of the dead, but his purpose was to attain it. How can our attitude be any different? We should each cultivate this same attitude as Paul—to press toward the goal, make it our purpose to attain it, and let nothing stand between us and the fulfilment of our purpose. I believe that is the challenge of the resurrection for each of us.
