What I Lose and Gain

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Philippians 3:8-12: 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 hi His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the deea. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, bu I press on to make i my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.

My Losses:
People spend a life time chasing after "things." What are those "things?" They include, riches, property, status, fame, pride, and power, just to name a few. There are those who want it all. There are those who want it all, NOW. The Bible uses a phrase to describe this pursuit. "Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."

Think about it. Fame is fleeting. Athletic prowess ends faster than it starts. Money can disappear in a moment. Power and control are illusions. You'll never have enough power and you can't control everything.  If we chase after these "things" of the world, we will never have them completely. That is the reality.

The only thing that lasts not only in our lifetimes, but forever, is Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him, we have something of far greater worth than the temporary things of this world. We will have eternal life with God.

So I look at my life, including the material blessings that God provides to sustain my life, as a loss. I do not grieve about it. I won't miss it, too much, when it goes away. My life is in God the Father who sent Jesus, God the Son, to save me of my sins. Jesus "lost" His life in order to "find" mine and yours. The gains that I have outshine the brightest things in this world.

My Gains:
I gain a wealth from God that is light years better than any wealth on earth. I gain a heavenly home, far larger and grander than any castle and mansion on earth. I care not for fame, power, status, and pride. Those things won't exist in heaven. Believers are, and forever will be, one in status with Christ Jesus my Lord.

I gain heaven when I believe in what Jesus did for me here on earth. I gain life eternal when I believe now in this lifetime. I gain it all. 

I don't have it all, NOW. I will when I get to heaven. So in the time that I have NOW, I will live according to God's love and grace and favor. I will offer my life as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. 

Is this heavenly life intriguing to you? Do you want to know more? Let's talk. And then let's see what you can gain through Jesus.

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