Who am I,

One of the best broadway shows out there is Les Miserables (yes I know, it is also a really good book). The star of this show is Jean Valjean who is an ex-convict during the mid-1800 in France. It chronicles his struggles of being “saved” on the run while trying to live a life doing the most good to others. The co-star is Javert. He is a policeman who grew up inside a jail. His parents were convicts, and he lived a life that put all the rewards on the things that he did. He lived to the letter of the law thinking that made him better than others. Javert eventually has a confrontation with Valjean over the care of another person (well several but this is the last one of the story). At this point Javert see that this convict cared more about others and life, and was more Godly, than Javert was. This sent Javert into a state of shock that he could not escape. 

This story often comes to my mind when I read Philippians 3:2-11. Paul talks about those who hold the Law above salvation. Paul speaks that there are those who will boast about what they have done, and how well they have kept the law. Paul tells them in verses 4-6 Paul talks about all of his accomplishments, showing how much he could boast. If one wanted to compare merits alone, Paul shows that he wins. Paul was so much a zealot that he murdered Christians prior to his conversion. Paul kept the Law. But, that is not the whole story. Paul goes on in the rest of this section to talk about how it was all nothing. To Paul all of his works were rubbish compared to the salvation of Grace that is found in Christ. Paul understood the key, it is not what one does, but why one does it that matters. It all came down the heart. That is the key. 

Today there are many schools of thought when it comes to how one works out their faith. But the question is are you doing things because you feel you should because it looks good for you. Or, are you doing things out of a loving heart in response to your salvation with Christ. To put it another way, two people each give a homeless family 1000 dollars. The first does it so they can write it off on taxes, and it makes them feel good. The second one may still write it off on taxes, but they do it because the see the family in need as precious to Christ. Both families did a good deed, but only one did it out of a proper response to God’s love. I ask you today, are you living for self, doing things to say I did this, living the letter of the law? Or, are you living for Christ, counting nothing for gain, but eager to serve? This is a hard way to live, but I know that for myself, I would rather have nothing and have Christ call me a good and faithful servant, than be adored by others and have it all, only to have Christ be ashamed of me in the end.