05/05/2021
We live in the world, and can become so wrapped up in the things that it has to offer that we begin to wear them around like badges of honor, and feel they give us all the worth we need; happy lives, and even the ability to control our own destiny, but nothing could be further from the truth. We have what the world offers us for a brief instant, and our bodies themselves are only here for the blink of an eye... then, all these things pass away, and there is only God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual things of Heaven. Our lives, like a spark rising from a night fire will twinkle, and then fade into darkness, but in Jesus we burn brightly as we come to know God for all eternity.
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
Philippians 3:7 ESV
Paul wrote these words to the church at Philippi after describing who he once was, the religious things he had here, and the spiritual man that he thought himself to be. Yet in all of this he had missed the mark... he had not found eternal life, nor true peace. He realized that none of his earthly badges meant anything once he had met Christ.
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”
Philippians 3:8 ESV
Paul was a successful, and mighty, man in his world. He was powerful to the point that he could pursue Christians wherever he found them and persecute them. He lacked for nothing, or at least that is what he thought, until in an instant his life changed... Jesus spoke to him, and his life changed forever. Listen to what he says:
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:8-11 ESV
Paul gave up everything that he once was... the power, the might, the authority, and his personal wealth, to follow Jesus. He was blinded to the world for a period of time, and studied for several years after meeting Jesus. In this time he didn’t know all that was ahead of him but God had a plan for his life, and told Ananias as much...
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
Acts 9:15 ESV
God spoke to men before Paul, and today Jesus still speaks to us, we are told to sacrifice the worldly things which might get in the way of our faith, and are given a calling as we serve God. Nothing has changed in this regard except perhaps the method in which we each are spoken to. Remember Moses?
“When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.””
Exodus 3:4-5 ESV
So God spoke to Moses and others, and Jesus speaks to us today. Has Jesus spoken to you? Perhaps he is speaking to you right now! Paul heard His voice in an audible way, and that is verified by those who were traveling with him,
“The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.”
Acts 9:7 ESV
but most of us hear him in a more spiritual way within ourselves, as a whisper, through signs, a dream, or even a vision, but we hear him none the less, and in every case God has a plan for our lives that begins with Jesus calling us to follow Him...
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV
And culminates in eternity...
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27-28 ESV
So today let’s look at our lives, and ask ourselves if we have been spoken to, called, and have started our journey of faith by picking up our cross. Then let’s look at what we consider our true badge of honor. Is God, through Jesus, the focus of our life, or do we just wear Him as an image alongside our wealth and position, to achieve some form of worldly glory among men? Are we simply sparks that rise bright in the night sky only to flicker, fade, and disappear, or does our absolute faith in God, and Jesus Christ, bring glory to God, and His eternal brightness to us?
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ to whom you call us, and through whom we are lead to you. Thank you Lord for shining your glorious light upon us, and instilling in us its glow for all the world to see. Help us Father to overcome the temptations of power, wealth, and the other attractions of the world, so that all of our attention remains focused on you. Open our eyes to your magnificence Jesus, just as you did Paul’s, and reveal the will of our Father to us as we take each new step. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our Father God, who has a plan for our lives that is woven into your perfect will for creation. Praised be your name Father in all things, and hear our prayers as we prostrate ourselves before you and say forgive us, for great are you above all things. Merciful are you Lord whose grace abounds and in whom the fullness of love, joy, peace, goodness, and righteousness abound... and eternity resides. Speak to us Father, and wash us clean in the blood of your Son Jesus so that we will be found free of sin, and worthy in Him. Lift us from this imperfect world to reside with you in Heaven forevermore.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?”
Hebrews 1:1-5 ESV
Rich Forbes