Matthew 11:12 NASB [12] From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
Grammatically, perhaps a better and more accurate translation of this verse would be this: “… The kingdom of heaven violently advances, and the Violent Advancers seize it.”
Listen to the heart of a Violent Advancer; “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)
Paul said in the book of Philippians that he was pressing on to apprehend that for which he was apprehended by Christ Jesus. He said that he was forgetting what lies behind and was reaching forward to what lies ahead. This is the heart of a Violent Advancer.
In the Song of Solomon 1:4 there is the perfect example of someone who will not take their spiritual destiny passively; “Take me away with you, and let us run.” The Shulumite in the Song is a Violent Advancer because her attitude is to go as far as she can in Christ experientially and run to that place with a sense of urgency. God is looking for people whose hearts are completely His so He can show Himself strong on their behalf.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time to waste, because I want to spend my time wasting my life of Jesus, seeking Him with All of my Heart. This isn’t about legalism or performance, but it is all about the passion to advance in grace as far as you can in this lifetime. As Paul said in Ephesians 3, I want to be a good steward of the grace of God, so that I can take as many advanced courses in grace as I possibly can in this lifetime. I want to discover all there is and manifest everything that it means to be in union with Christ.