DUNG
FOR A DIAMOND
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the
loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”
Php 3:8
The individual to whom Christ has been revealed in sovereign regeneration
has been given a brand new perspective concerning the value of himself
and the necessity of prominence among the high and mighty of this world.
Anything that would be a rival against the child of God’s view of Christ
his Lord is esteemed as only worthy of being cast out as filth. The
worst of our filth is our best. Our own righteousness is our abomination.
Our goodness is a cesspool of iniquity. The believer’s desire for Christ
and His righteousness progressively and perpetually causes contempt
for self - “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now
mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor (hate) myself, and repent in
dust and ashes” Job 42:5-6. This is not progressive sanctification,
this is the effect of growing in grace and knowledge of Christ. Although
nothing changes as to our relationship with Christ, we increasingly
have a clearer view of Him and of ourselves. By God’s grace we will
finally realize we have given up nothing! What is dung compared to a
diamond! What is this world compared to Christ! Who am I compared to
Christ! There is nothing to compare with the glory, the beauty, the
worth of Christ and being found in Him and clothed in His righteousness.
“He is all my righteousness! I stand in Him complete and worship Him!”
We hear a lot in religious circles about self-esteem and how to be better
Christians, thereby attaining more of what we desire in this world and
in the end a greater reward in heaven. This does nothing more than cultivate
the anti-Christ self-righteousness that dominates the proud hearts of
every unbeliever. The child of God is made to give it up daily. We are
constrained to be in agreement with the inspired words of the Apostle,
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing”
Romans 7:18.
Tommy
