Most Precious
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July 20, 2008 |
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 "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
In this world, that which people deem most precious varies from person to person. As everything will be in vain when they breathe their last, some people deem life most precious. Others consider money more precious than life, and still others value success, fame, authority, health, or family above all else.
The apostle Paul who uttered the verse above gave up fame, knowledge, and comfort of this world; he counted them "but rubbish." What was so important to the apostle Paul that he could live such a life?
1.A Passionate Love for God
In 1 Timothy 1:15, the apostle Paul confessed, "I am foremost of all sinners." Prior to believing in the Lord, Paul had persecuted the believers with zeal. Following his encounter with Jesus Christ, however, Paul grasped God's love. "Even for a sinner like me who had persecuted those who believe in the Lord," he is likely to have confessed as he fathomed God's love in his heart, "He suffered brutally." The more he discovered his shortcomings and flaws, Paul deemed God's grace all the more precious and dedicated every attribute and area of his life to recompense God for that love.
As he confessed in 2 Corinthians 5:13-14a, "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us," the apostle Paul lived the rest of his life for the Lord. He did not defend himself when he was wrongfully accused while doing the Lord's work. Nor did Paul lament when he owned nothing after giving all he had to the Lord. Before God's Word, Paul demolished the frame of his advanced learning and knowledge, and his righteousness.
For 7 years I had been on the deathbed from a variety of illnesses and abandoned by everyone I knew. Yet, it was God who first came to me while I was in despair and suffering, set me free from sickness, poverty, and misery, and gave me a hope for heaven. On account of such love, I have since desired to live only for God and am living my life thus today.
When you look back at your own life, you will see how great God's love has been for you. Even if you have not accepted the Lord in such dramatic circumstances as did Paul or I, I am certain that every one of you have your own share of grace you have received from God. When people first grasp God's love for them and their hearts are set ablaze by that love, they run on the path of salvation with everything they have. Are you, then, still running on that path unfazed and even running more zealously today than you did early on? Loving God does not become faint with the passing of time; it is renewed and deepened with each passing day. I urge each of you to live each new day touched by the grace and the love which God has given you and which you have engraved in your heart.
2.The Gospel of Heaven
When we could only give thanks to God for saving us from eternal death, God has also given us heaven against which nothing in this world can be measured or compared. Suppose you faced execution on account of a large debt you had run up but a wealthy man paid back all of your debt. In such an instance, it only makes sense for you to recompense the wealthy man for the mercy he has shown you. Now, can you imagine how wondrous and astonishing it would be if that wealthy man who had just paid back all of your debt legally adopted you and made you the heir to his wealth? This is the kind of grace we have received from God.
The apostle Paul saw with his own eyes Paradise in heaven in the third heaven. Even though Paradise is the lowliest of all heavenly dwelling places, it cannot be compared with anything in this world. For this reason, the apostle Paul could count his wealth, authority, fame, knowledge, and any source of comfort of life in this world "rubbish." Even in times of difficulty Paul rejoiced in an earnest hope for heaven. Even if he thirsted, starved, and grew weary from hardships, Paul remained touched and deeply inspired by God's grace. Even when it appeared that he no longer had any hope to live on, Paul could pick himself up whenever he remembered the grace of God who had given him heaven. With solemn resolve to accomplish a sacred and pure heart and approach closer to the Throne of God, Paul confessed, "I die daily," and charged towards the eternal kingdom.
How often and how much do you harbor heaven in your heart in your everyday life? How much is your heart stirred when you hear messages on heaven? If you indeed hope to enter and dwell in that eternal kingdom, you cannot merely desire it; you must invest on it. Owning your own home in this world requires a great deal of patience: you save money by holding off purchases on things you want to have, eat, and indulge in, and toil while enduring an urge to rest. Owning your own home in heaven, which cannot be compared to the fanciest of houses of this world, requires an investment with greater patience. If you have a hope for heaven, you will not grow weary no matter what difficulties you face in this world but instead overcome them in gladness and gratitude, day in and day out.
3.A Zealous Love for Other Souls
When one learns about God's love and is filled with a hope for heaven, his heart will become zealous in love for other souls. He will not rest merely because he has received salvation; he cannot sit idly while countless people around him are running towards hell. The apostle Paul knew heaven and hell well and also knew how much it wounded and grieved God whenever He saw dying souls. For this reason, after his encounter with the Lord, Paul lived the rest of his life for other souls.
He traveled near and far to preach the Gospel, visit churches, and teach believers. In doing so, Paul became subject to many afflictions. He faced brutal cold and extreme heat, often starved, stayed awake many a night, and encountered dangers from robbers, and was beaten from unjust persecutions. He was at times imprisoned and shipwrecked.
Yet, we find him confessing in 2 Corinthians 11:28-29, "Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?" Despite countless afflictions he faced, the apostle Paul was not concerned with his wellbeing. He did not concern himself with such questions as, "Where can I find better food?" "What shall I wear?" "How can I rest more comfortably?" "How can I enjoy better things?" or "How can I be loved more?" Paul was always concerned about others, asking God in tears, "How can I provide greater faith to this church?" or "How can the believers become stronger and overcome trials?" Even as he so was faithful and saved many souls, Paul was not interested in being commended by God. Paul did not want others to raise him up or seek compensation for his work for the Lord.
Paul even went so far as confessing in Romans 9:3, "For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." As Paul counted the salvation of other souls that much precious, he was willing to exchange his salvation with that of countless others. Now, what could Paul have possibly expected in return from them when he was willing to go to hell in their stead? To the moment he breathed his last, the apostle Paul sacrificed and devoted himself for other souls. How compassionate were you when you saw dying souls and how precious were the souls who had been assigned and committed to you? I hope that the time you devote to taking care of other souls will be more joyous for you than the time you spend to rest and enjoy yourself.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what do you harbor in your heart? As you cherish God's love for you, do you harbor that love in your heart and ruminate upon it time and again? Or do you from time to time befriend the world or, even if you do not indulge in the world and its ways, still have vague longings for the world in your heart? If that is the case, you must strive to swiftly cast away such an attitude and mindset and only then will God recognize you as His most precious children and lead you to New Jerusalem, the best and most glorious of all dwelling places in heaven.
I hope only a passionate love for God, the Gospel of heaven, and a zealous love for other souls will fill your heart. By doing so, may each of you come forth as a blessed child of God who can boldly confess, "I love God above all else," in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray!
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