“So flee youthful passions and pursue
righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from
a pure heart” (II Tim 2:22). These instructions to pastors have a double
meaning in a singular direction. The pastor is to travel in one direction along
the narrow path of the kingdom of heaven in such a way that it looks like he is
fleeing from one thing while pursuing another.
This
should not only look like a scared man fleeing a burning building and caring
only for his personal safety from the flames. Neither should it merely look
like a man pursuing a girl while also pursuing many other girls. When both
elements are combined, a pastor’s life in Christ should look like he is fleeing
a world that is going to hell, while running to the one he loves with all his
heart, soul, and mind.
Now,
while a pastor may know how many times he trips and stumbles in his fleeing and
his pursuing, it is still clear that he is called to this dual lifestyle. Those
with him should see how lovingly and longingly he strains towards the finish
line of knowing Christ face to face, while those behind him should wonder what
in the world he is running from with such fear and disdain.
Paul’s
testimony at the end of his life was this: “I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”
(II Timothy 4:7). That is what a man can say when he flees all manner of
worldliness, and pursues all manner of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ.
Now,
while Paul’s example often seems so lofty that it verges on the feeling of
unattainable, it is clear that he was not speaking of any kind of perfection in
this earthly lifetime. Growing maturity, yes; perfection, no. Rather, he left
these instructions that emphasize practice and progress: “Practice these things, immerse yourself in
them, so that all may see your progress” (I Timothy 4:15)
The conclusion
is that pastors must set the example of putting into practice both fleeing and
pursuing, immerse themselves in these things with faithful abandon, and in such
a way that their progress is clearly seen by anyone who cares about such
things. A life of such progress will one day lead to the perfection we long for
when Jesus appears and “we
shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
Now,
to be sure that Paul was not the only one of the Apostles who spoke of such
things, John followed up his encouragement about our completed transformation
at the reveal of Jesus Christ by presenting this exhortation: “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies
himself as he is pure” (I John 3:3). We purify ourselves by fleeing the
world and pursuing the righteousness of faith. Of course, always mindful of
this promise from Jesus our Savior: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6)
From my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
No comments:
Post a Comment