“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. 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. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).

THE CHURCH: MOVING FROM GOOD TO GREAT, PART II!

The springtime of the year is one of my favorite times. After the winter, with the cold weather, dreary days and absence of flowers and animals, springtime for me is quite refreshing. I get new energy in the spring. The other day, I took some time to listen to the birds singing. Our grass is getting its green color back again and our flower buds are pushing their way up from the ground. It is in springtime, that the things that seem dead and dormant in the winter come alive in the spring. I am convinced that it is no coincidence that Easter occurs in the spring. Even nature affirms the fact that Easter means that the dead can live!

What does it take to be great? There are many young boys who aspire to be the next Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods. How many young girls want to be the successor to Venus Williams or Oprah Winfrey? The truth of the matter is that many of us want to be great. As a young preacher, I wanted to be the next Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. However, when we discover the cost and sacrifices associated with greatness many of us decide to accept good or mediocrity. Greatness does not come from doing something a long time, nor from wishing and hoping for better results. CNN Editor-at-large Goeffrey Colvin in an article dated October 19, 2006, in talking about greatness states, “The good news is that your lack of a natural gift is irrelevant – talent has little or nothing to do with greatness. You can make yourself into any number of things, and you can make yourself great.” While, one many want to disagree with Goeffrey concerning the irrelevant of gifts and talents and his non involvement of God, but they would be hard press to question his notion that greatness is the results of hard work and much practice.

I want to suggest four words that I believe can define and is associated with greatness. The first word is dedication. Many people go through life with no passion for anything. Those people, satisfied with being good, would just as well stay home as come to worship. Paul writing to the Romans states, “I beseech therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). We have been set apart to do the will and work of God. The second word is determination. We should be resolute and persistence in our pursuit for holiness and God’s plan for our life. To the Corinthians Paul declared, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (I Co. 2:2). He was clear and focused. Many people cannot be great because they have too many masters (Matt. 624). The Lord does not have priority in their lives. The saints, who modeled greatness, in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 11, paid with sweat, blood and tears to be listed in the faith hall of fame. The third word is perspiration. We must be deliberate and intentional about becoming who we are in Christ (II Co. 5:17, I John 3:1-3). I agree with Goeffrey greatness is the byproduct of hard work and much practice. The student that study hard usually does well on the examination. Greatness for the believer is collaboration between divinity and humanity. As an athlete trains, Paul admonishes Timothy, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales, rather, train yourself to be godly. We must work as if greatness depends on us and pray as if it all depends on God. In writing these words to Timothy, Paul knew that training was an arduous task, full of difficulties and discouragements, but the rewards outweighed the sacrifices. The finally word is inspiration. Greatness, in the Christian realm, must be divinely influenced. With assignment God provides enablement. Paul’s words to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me: (Phil. 4:13).

I want to be like Jesus. That is, I want to be God-centered – to have devotion to God and I want to be Godlike – to have Christian character. Like Paul, I challenge you, as we move from Good to Great, to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” At the end of my time here on earth, I want to be able to declare, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). God, our church and our community are depending on you!