Mercies of God

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Philippians 3:11-13

My goodness gracious, mercy me. If I could have saved myself I already would have sort of. Though it is not possible as of yet which is more than likely why Paul over here is just trying again. Certainly it is not as if Paul is over here just raising himself. Such a thought is as blasphemous here as it seems. My, it seems that not seconds before his eyes had just closed and already Paul is over here crossing out idols and removing himself from the frame. That is to say if any could have been found to do the things that Christ once had done in taking the Godhead there for themselves, it would be a first then for sure. Something then is keeping him bound as it were, a holding him back from the things of this world. One day Paul too in the search of his power and purpose as a follower of Christ then himself would too have likewise just come to that tomb and called out with a loud voice that is heard all over this world. Then would the dead have heard him of course and raised them on up to follow after himself. Certainly those alive and remaining then at the time would have had naught to say when seeing the after-effects felt to this day. That is just though how some of us do as though approaching the god of this world, who safe to say is naught but themselves. Paul though, if you will remember, is in chains for the gospel. That is to say wherever he goes, there is a trailing on after a constat reminder of his forsaking all things for the sake of the Lord. Thus he is in chains and still chasing after his captors, namely goodness and mercy which were supposed to be following him all the way then to glory. Safe to say, he has a pretty good chance of catching up with that which was tailing him of course. You might have been laughing just now, though it is certainly not funny, now is it then though. In a restatement of purpose, Paul is over here trying to write his name out of the book of life of this world by seizing after the things of the Lord while at the same time turning about there in circles so that there might be a meeting up of behind and before there and a chasing after the Lord. Suffice it to be, the Lord will just not let these things happen here that you see. O wonder ays there is not a dwelling place there in the past nor yet that which was made without hands there to man. In fact, he chooses to forget where he has come that the glory of God might enter into the picture through his forgetting of self in the process. That which was behind him of course was the much rule keeping and observance of practices also with a seizing after the church there with both hands. Perhaps he had done better to just have remembered the Lord. It is a remember your Creator in the days of your youth there of course. That is while you still have him with you, of which you have need of his goodness and mercy that much for certain. Without him there would be no making it, it just would not happen. In doing so it seems Paul has quite forgotten the goodness and mercy along with how far he has come and instead is choosing to place his focus there on the Lord. Perhaps there would be a nail scarred hand there to meet him at the close of the day or some rest too from the journey and heat of the way. You talk about it being an awful long way to the Fathers house up above just as if he were not already dwelling with us down here in his love. Such a thing is as strange as it seems and even stranger still too just the ways of the Lord.