Philippians 3:8
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.
Paul’s Life Story
There actually have been movies made that portrayed Paul’s life, and most of these showed the centrality of Christ in his life. Even though Bible scholars agree that he was perhaps the most brilliant man of his time, Paul would say that he really knew nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). He counted everything else as garbage compared to knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8b). Everything else was a loss in comparison to the riches he found in Christ Jesus because there was nothing at all that surpassed the value of knowing Him (Phil. 3:8a). If Paul was going to brag, it would only be about Jesus Christ and His work on the cross (Gal. 6:14). Imagine if someone made a movie out of your life. What would the major theme be? Would your faith in Christ be the central focus or plot of the story? If you were dragged into a court room, would the state have enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?
Life’s a Stage
I know you’ve probably heard the theme that life’s like a play and we’re all just actors acting on a stage. This is true in a sense, but for the Christian, when the final curtain falls, it’s not the end but just the beginning. This life is like a morning fog that will soon burn off by the morning sun. It’s simply a vapor–it’s here and then it quickly vanishes (James 4:14). We won’t get any mulligans or “do-overs” in this life. We have only one life to live and won’t get a second chance, so we must make the most of it. None of us knows when the day of our death will be (Eccl. 8:8), so live each day as if it were your last because we all have an appointment with destiny (Heb. 9:27).
Redeeming the Days
If you’re old enough to remember the now extinct S&H Green Stamps, you could collect them and over time redeem them for something of value. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:9), so we are not really our own (1 Cor. 3:23). We belong to Christ (Gal. 3:29), so we must redeem the days that God has graciously given to us (Eph. 5:16). If a famous Hollywood director contacted you about making a movie and asked your family, friends, and co-workers about you, what would they say was the plot of your life? Would it be the centrality of your faith in Christ, or would it be your favorite sports team, Facebook, movies? That’s something we should all think about because our life story is being filmed right now, right here, on the spot where we are. That’s why today counts forever.
A Closing Prayer
Great God in heaven, forgive me for squandering my time away with frivolous, useless, empty things in comparison to the great salvation I have been granted. Help me to make my life’s story all about You and not about me, and in Jesus’ most glorious name I pray.
Amen
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