Philippians 3:4-6; Jumping

“…Though I myself have reasons for such confidence.  If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eight day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church, as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”

Image you lived in Hawaii – if you are like me, you may have often imagined that.  Now imagine that one of the volcanos on your island was in danger of erupting.  Not just a little eruption with some ash and lava, but a cataclysmic eruption; think Krakatoa, Mt. St. Helens, and Pompeii rolled into one.  At that point your only hope for survival is to get off the island and to California. 

So you figure, “I’ve always been a really good jumper”, so you start working out.  Squats, lunges, box jumps, P90X in the morning and Insanity at night.  Others are practicing with you, but you can jump further than all of them.  But you are careful to share your knowledge and techniques, you want to be encouraging.

The day of the eruption arrives and all the jumpers stand on the beach facing California.  As the explosion rocks the island and plumes of smoke shoot into the sky, everyone begins running toward the water.  As they reach the water each person jumps for all they are worth – and land 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet into the water. 

But you are the best of the best, you can jump farther than anyone because you are dedicated and fit and talented.  You have completed every workout, watched every video, read every book and even did yoga!  You take off – a picture perfect jump, you are soaring with the birds…and land 8 feet in the water. 

Shocked, you turn around and look at those in the water with you.  Nobody says nice jump.  Nobody says that they wish they had worked as hard as you did.  They all are staring at the wall of rock, ash, and lava rapidly descending upon you and wondering why they didn’t just get on the plane that would have carried them safely to California.

A ridiculous scenario isn’t it?  Who would think they could jump from Hawaii to California?  Well, who would think they could be good enough to attain the perfect righteousness of God based on their own merit? 

That is what Paul is discussing in this passage; the utter foolishness of propping yourself up according to your works.  Do you ever do that?  Or more accurately, how often do you do that? 

Something to contemplate until next time.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9