Philippians 3:8
More than that, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them dung, in order that I may gain Christ
Loss
Paul's words are convicting this morning... I even consider all things to be loss.
Do I?
Do I consider anything and everything as closer to literally nothing when compared to knowing Jesus? I don't know, this morning I can't even articulate what it means to consider allthings "loss".
What a trivial picture but how often is my mind and spirit stuck between the green boxes... fixated again on my retirement, kid's school costs, the fact that ribeye steak is still $20/lbs. I have anxities like anyone else over things in the world, and if my net worth increased by $3M today what would my response be... would I consider it a loss when compared to the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Or would I experience joy and hope for my earthly future...
Of course Paul's note here isn't that we have to just be angry about good things and be sad forever until we're on the other side of a consecrated heaven, but I think the point is if my net worth goes up by a lot of down by a lot, at the end of the day that's still between the 2 green boxes in my diagram... And my mind needs to focus on Jesus. Not for what he can do for me, pursuing him in light of my own fancies makes him out to be a Santa Claus, and in light of Paul's words to the Philippian church would miss the point entirely. There is nothing for us to pursue for gain - that is the point.
The ultimate gift is the knowledge of Christ. This knowledge changs us - by the molding hand of Yahweh through the mediating power and authority of Jesus by the Spirit indwelling our lives - the knowledge of Christ conforms us into his image and likeness. But Jesus is the prize, he is the gain. Knowledge of him isn't just knowing his name, it's being known by him through communion and meditation. Through daily repentence.
Gain
I just found myself downcast over this reflection, knowledge of Christ is hard... he chooses whome he chooses, frees whom he frees. In that freedom is where the comparison can be made. Only in the freedom of Jesus can you remove yourself from the line between the 2 green boxes in my picture, and even consider the glory of the knowledge of Christ. Before new life all we know is this:
He chooses... but then what? For some, loss must follow. In fact, for all loss will eventually follow. The degree of that loss is not outside his sovereignty. Paul says he "suffered the loss of all things" - in this experience his mind is opened to the reality that was hidden from him, the knowledge that there's more but the only thing worth gaining is Jesus.
I hope I don't have to suffer the loss of all things in order to more fully grasp the gravity of my King. But his will be done on earth as it is in heaven, whatever that may mean for my life. And may it be that I gain Christ.