To Enjoy Christ Forever
What She Said - Part 7
Barbaranne Kelly, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25–26
For a first-century Jew living in Palestine, Saul of Tarsus (who we know as Paul) had it all. He counted among his blessings that he’d been circumcised when he was eight days old, exactly as prescribed in the Law of Moses. An Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, he not only belonged to the beloved people of God, but also to the one tribe which didn’t separate from Judah with the ten northern tribes under the divisive reign of Rehoboam. A Hebrew of Hebrews, Paul was practically perfect in every way. As a Pharisee, he was immersed in the study of the Law. His zeal for the Law of Moses drove him to a single-minded persecution of those who threatened the peace and purity of Judaism, especially the followers of Christ. According to his interpretation of that Law and the dictates of his conscience, he was blameless (Phil. 3:4–6). Paul had every reason to be confident that his lineage and his own righteousness would pave his way to heaven.
Paul had no idea how wrong he was.
On the road to Damascus, Jesus Christ confronted Paul, knocking him to the ground. By calling this determined enemy of The Way to Himself by grace alone, the Lord banished all notions of self-righteousness from Paul’s heart and mind. In the blinding light of Christ’s glory, all the jewels in Paul’s self-made crown of righteousness crumbled to dust.
Paul’s conversion to Christ cost him everything. Discredited as a Pharisee and hounded by the Jews, Paul lost his status, his reputation, his friends, his occupation, and everything upon which he’d built his identity. And yet, here in Philippians, he makes it clear that all those things, set next to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord, are only so much rubbish. In fact, everything that he’d counted in the “gain” column of his “righteousness ledger” turned out to belong in the “loss” column (3:7–8)! All of his self-righteousness only served as an obstacle to true righteousness in Christ because it kept his eyes turned on himself.
Paul’s new “gain” column is filled from top to bottom and overflowing with Christ. Not only is the Lord Jesus Christ the sum and substance of Paul’s acquired gains, but He is the penultimate goal of all Paul’s aspirations:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of 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 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 3:7–11
The all-consuming desire for Christ which Paul expresses here is the same expressed by the psalmist in Today’s Treasure:
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25–26
Paul knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christ was the strength of his heart and his portion forever. And even though his flesh and heart might fail, he wanted to share the sufferings of his Lord and become like Him in his death. For there was nothing in heaven and earth that he desired but knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
What does your “gain” column look like?
Before you answer that, I’ll admit right here and now that I wish mine looked more like Paul’s. Sadly, I have a number of entries that look more like his “before” ledger. Nationality, family, friends, and personal achievements too often accrue to my credit. Even the church I attend and the denomination to which we belong serve to prop up my “spiritual credit score.”
But praise be to God, Who is continuing the good work He began in me. Even when my accounting is all wrong, my own rubbish righteousness cannot alter the fact that God has given me the gift of faith, by grace, and the righteousness of His Son, my Savior. As He continues His good work in me, I’m learning to reconcile the ledger, and I know that Christ fills the gain column from top to bottom and overflowing—even when I’m tempted to forget.
PRAYER
Father, grant that my love for Christ would abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that I would not only approve, but desire what is excellent, and so be blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes only through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of Your holy name. Amen.
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Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, co-author of Treasures of Faith. and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non-profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.