True fulfillment can only come to those who seek the kingdom of God, first. When you have a passion for the things of God, He promises satisfaction. Satisfaction is guaranteed when you are driven to the things of God no matter what the cost or the sacrifice. So Paul makes it clear that he hadn't gotten to the place in God that he wanted to attain, but then he presents us with these three things we can do to get close to reaching our goals: (1) Start where you are; (2) Use what you've got; and (3) Do the best you can.

The thing that keeps many people from starting is they can't seem to forget. They won't stop thinking about the past. Forgetting does not mean that I lose memory of a thing; but it does mean that I stop thinking about it so much so that it's not paralyzing my life. I can't move forward because I keep holding on to the past. Sometimes you've got to let it go.

[A Note from Pastor Stephen King: We were truly blessed to have Rev. Alvin L. Pope share with our congregation today. It was a powerful message of hope, transformation, and possibility. The servant of God delivered a life-changing message that inspired and revived the people of God. The presence and power of God filled the sanctuary as we received His Word.]