Pursuit of Progress

"Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith..." Philippians 1:25

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon bemoans the futility of man's attempts to "make progress”" during his days under the sun. Whatever "progress" I may attain in my life, for my generation, will eventually be undone. A new discovery or significant contribution will be forgotten over time or replaced by a newer one. That's not to say that God does not intend for mankind to make progress. Quite the opposite, He has commanded us to progress--to subdue the earth and multiply in it.

Therefore the pursuit of progress is wired into the species. But God has ordained, by virtue of short life, physical boundaries, limited opportunities, and general decay, that my contribution to His overall plan be almost completely obscured.

God governs progress in the world. Individuals cannot see God's work under the sun. I find comfort in the hidden joys God works into my futile days. He encourages me to seek joy, goodness and contentment in all His benevolent gifts. Enjoying simple pleasures keeps me from striving and being vexed in futile pursuits of progress and striving for meaning. This truth has a counterintuitive effect on my soul because rather than inclining me toward hopelessness in my pursuits, instead it preserves a good and healthy work ethic. I can focus on simply doing good work without trying to figure out how the unique edges that give shape to the tiny puzzle piece of my life fit in with the whole. God knows what He is doing under the sun, but I do not, and will not see it while I toil here.

But Ecclesiastes is limited in scope to my days and my toil under the sun. It starts with the cradle and ends with the grave. There is just enough mention of eternity to keep me sober and conscious that God will bring His righteous judgment to bear on all that I do.

Ecclesiastes is indeed an excellent tonic against my worldly ambitions, arrogance, and presumptuous independence. But the perspective of Ecclesiastes is incomplete with regard to God's ultimate purposes. There may be nothing new under the sun, but God has brought about something new under heaven. The new covenant in Christ's blood makes all things new. The mystery of Christ crucified was and is hidden from eyes that merely consider earthly things. The redeemed life has a new shape--it's no longer a short segment defined by beginning and end points. The redeemed soul has a starting point in the first birth, but due to rebirth in Christ, it has no end point at the grave. No, the shape of new life is a ray, a line with a starting point, inclined upward toward Christ with no end point. It continues toward eternity.

So what of the pursuit of progress, ambition, and striving in the new life? To strive, press, strain and push for progress and attainment under the sun leads primarily to futility and vexation. To strive, press, strain and push forward for progress in faith for growth in heavenly riches, for deeper communion with God is not futile at all--rather I am exhorted to it and enticed by the promise of eternal rewards. Here is where God intends for the ambitious impulse within me to find free expression. Run as to win, fight not without aim, strive Christward and progress in faith! To press hard on the earth from cradle to grave is mostly futile and often vexing. To press hard on the upward trajectory along the unending ray which moves forward toward eternity with no endpoint is right and good and glorifying to God.

Run my soul--but not as though the world depended on it. Run because the soul it intended to run to Christ for the progress of faith, the joy of the soul, and the glory of God. Amen.

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