Nothing wasted

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth 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.  –Philippians 3:4b-6 (NIV)
 
What are you counting on to get you through this life? To become the basis for righting your wrongs? To be your answer before your Maker for what you did with what was entrusted to your care? Paul thought he had a pretty good response. His pedigree was impeccable. He had been born into the right family, read the right authors, studied under the right teachers, and done the right stuff. Then one day, he found it wasn’t enough.
 
From that point forward, he counted all those credentials as worthless for accruing any credit before God. He came to rely completely on his faith in a crucified and risen Christ as his only hope. And not only his hope, but also his purpose, his mission, and his joy. Even so, we know that Paul’s past was what equipped him for his mission, and his history fueled his passion.
 
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  –Philippians 3:7-9 (NIV)
 
As Paul looked back over his life, there were things he was thankful for, things he was ashamed of, things he was able to use to his advantage, and things that held him back. When he referred to those things as “garbage”, it was meant in terms of claiming any of them as a source of righteousness before God. Indeed, many of the things he had in mind when he made that proclamation played a major role in making him who he was.
 
I see that dynamic in my own life. Where I was born, when I was born, the family I grew up in, my physical abilities and limitations, the religious tradition I was taught in, the sins I committed and mistakes I made along the way, as well as the triumphs and moments when my choices and actions reflected something more noble – none of it, nor the sum of the parts, constitute a resume’ that merits eternal consideration.
 
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  –Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
 
Yet each component has been redeemed by my Lord to bless me and equip me for blessing that showcases His goodness and greatness. Wherever you have been and whatever you have done, I pray you are able to believe in the good purpose that your Creator still has for you and join Him in the worthwhile projects He still has in store. Blessings.