In Philippians 3:8-9 Paul writes about his burning desire to KNOW Jesus 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.”
We’ve heard about people who sell everything and move to Hollywood, working 3 jobs, etc., just because they want so bad to become an actor. We read about people who spend hours and hours training and getting themselves into perfect shape because they desire to become an Olympic athlete. Students spend years in medical school studying hard to become doctors. And the list could go on about the concentrated efforts people put into trying to become better at whatever they are seeking after. They willingly give up stuff in order to gain what they want, and yet what they are gaining will never last.
I wonder why we find it SO hard to put that kind of effort into knowing GOD! Our relationship with Jesus Christ will impact our lives while we are in this world and for ALL of eternity. What’s it worth to you to TRULY KNOW HIM! He can work in our lives in SUCH amazing ways. Few people in this world ever truly get close enough to Him to see what ONLY HE can do through their lives. The cost is great…but the rewards are out of this world! The missionary Jim Elliott said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” We can keep NOTHING of this life’s possessions, fame, or fortune – so why spend all of our time and effort trying to obtain them?
On the other hand, EVERYTHING we gain in our personal relationship with Jesus Christ lasts for all of eternity! I’m learning more and more the futility of chasing after and loving this world and it’s pleasures. It’s just NOT worth the effort. Especially when there is SO MUCH to be gained by a life FULLY COMMITTED to Jesus Christ.
Just as we feel much better and have more energy when we get in shape physically by losing excess weight and stop putting junk in our diet, the same is true with the Christian life. The more time we spend exercising our mind by focusing on Him and His Word and getting the junk of this world out of our system, the happier and more productive we will be in our Christian walk. We have to lose the bad to gain the good!