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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 28.

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Editorial

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“Not as though I had already attained,” wrote the apostle Paul, “either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3: 12.
THIS he said after thirty years of following Jesus. And he doubly emphasized the lesson of Christian growth, repeating: “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.”
A Wrong Standard.—The apostle set no standard of mere fleshly attainment. “We dare not make ourselves of the number,” he said, “or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Cor. 10: 12. His standard was the righteousness of Christ — ever inciting him to press onward and upward “toward the mark.”
An Illustration.—A graphic illustration of the wrong way of gaging one’s progress was given by J. N. Andrews in the REVIEW of Dec. 29, 1868:—
I meet with many persons who feel certain they are making progress heavenward when I fail to discover wherein they have gained any ground in months, or perhaps years. The explanation seems to be this: The world is making a fearful rush to perdition. The man who makes no advancement in the way to life, and who may be even slowly but steadily tending toward perdition, as he observes the world pass him with such speed in that direction, may even suppose that he is really making considerable progress toward the city of God. I may illustrate this by the fact that often when looking out of the car windows on one side, I believe my car to be advancing when it is really standing still, and I am deceived by seeing a train that is going the other way. Looking out of the other side of the car shows me my mistake. I then see that we are not advancing at all, and sometimes that we are even losing ground. We need not be deceived. We are not to compare ourselves with others, but with Christ.