This World Can Keep its Economy--I'll Take Jesus

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Phil. 3:20-21). When I focus more on the world and less on Jesus, discouragement and disillusionment soon follow. I am reminded of this today as I consider seemingly meaningless suffering and the inequities of the world system.

I still have no answer, so far as cause is concerned, for the fire that rages in my extremeties. The medical professionals call it small fiber neuropathy but they have no idea what is causing it and I am growing quite tired of it. It is easy to become discouraged. But then I am reminded of Paul's words that faithful suffering here equals glory there. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).

Then there are the inequities of the world's economic system. I don't mean money here but how the world system works. For example, hard work and years of dedicated service do not necessarily lead to recognition and greater responsibility. In fact, some don't necessarily seem to have to put in years of hard work and dedicated service. The whole system can cause one to become disillusioned in short order. But then I am reminded of Paul's words that loss here equals Christ there. "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Phil. 3:7-11).

So, as the song says, you can take this world and give me Jesus. Clearly, this present suffering and loss is God's will for me in Christ Jesus. And both are temporary in light of eternity. By God's grace I'll keep my eyes on Jesus, I'll keep fighting the good fight, knowing that one day soon I'm going to see Him face to face. On that day all the suffering and all the loss will have been worth it all. Think about these things!