Your reputation is worth nothing.
You need to put Christ first
It is a dangerous day when "I" and “me” become so important in your life that nothing else matters. I (and will now refer to myself as “writer” to avoid confusion) knew a couple who writer thought were good people. However, as they climbed the social ladder in the community, writer often heard the woman, who had always spoken of herself in a rather unassuming way, as it should be, change her style where everything was about herself. She is so esteemed in her position, which is actually her husband's, that she cannot help but tell the rest of humanity about it. All you hear about is "I" and "me".
The apostle Paul had much to boast about. For his time, he was a learned man who could speak several languages, knew and carried out the Jewish law to the letter, and moved in the higher circles. He had the permission of the scribes to act as he pleased. Then he repented and realised that it was time for "I" to make way for "Him". From where he was on his way to Damascus with the authority to arrest Christians, his entire reputation was destroyed in an instant. Let us see how the Word explains it:
1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. – Acts 9:1-6
Suddenly his whole life is changed. Now let us read how he describes it to the church in Philippi:
1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. – Philippians 3:1-6
Paul mentions the following:
- He was circumcised on the eighth day, according to the requirements of the law.
- He comes from the right nationality, Israel.
- He was born from an esteemed tribe, Benjamin.
- He was a genuine Hebrew.
- As far as the law was concerned, he was a Pharisee, the dominant of the two groups.
- He persecuted the Christian congregations, and did what he was expected, also being witness to the killing of Stephen.
- His knowledge and application of the law were impeccable.
Then came his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his whole reputation went up in smoke. Having first determined the direction of his life himself, he is suddenly instructed to go to the city of Damascus, where he was on his way, but had to wait there for further instructions, which were completely different from what he initially went to the city for.
His conversion was so dramatic that he wrote to the congregation in Philippi that what was gain for him, he considered loss for the sake of Christ and gave up everything he was or had:
7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea 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, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. – Philippians 3:7-11
He does this for three reasons.
- To obtain Christ as gain, and not his own interests. He now does not stamp out Christianity anymore, but fervently promotes it.
- To be found in Him, and no longer in himself. He no longer serves his own aspirations, but those of Christ.
- To know Him and the power of Christ's resurrection, and no longer his own abilities.
The end goal is to crucify himself, the "I", those seven points on which his reputation was built, and rise from the dead as the new man and become conformed to Christ's death. He writes these striking words:
14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14
Paul left behind who he was and reached out to what lies ahead—the goal, Jesus Christ, who must take shape within him. As John the Baptist said: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Conclusion
What is the writer trying to tell you? The "self" in your life must be crucified so that Christ alone can take form in you. Your reputation from years ago, the money you had, and the work you accomplished count for nothing today. Perhaps it is time to change your name as follows: "I, [Your Name]”, must make way for “Jesus”. Erase the "self," or worse, the "Self" in your life, and replace it with Jesus Christ. Your current situation may be dire, and you might look back on the days when everything revolved around yourself. However, as long as you still sit on the throne of your own life, God cannot accomplish anything in you. He is waiting for you to surrender that position to Him.
You can either do this willingly or be struck down hard to compel you to do it. God expects you to take the first option before it is too late, and He has to intervene decisively, though lovingly. God's love, according to [ John 3:16 ], has never diminished for you. However, there is room for only one person on the throne of your life. If your life is currently in chaos, look beside you. Perhaps Jesus Christ is standing next to the throne of your life rather than sitting on it and controlling your life for you. There is no room for both you and Jesus. It is either Jesus Christ or your chaos. Perhaps today is your Damascus experience.