“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”–Phil. 3:7
The true Christian, though he is in revolt against the world’s efforts to brainwash him, is no mere rebel for rebellion’s sake. He dissents from the world because he knows that it cannot make good on its promises. He has tasted the pleasures of society and he knows that they leave a bitter taste; and he has found that blessing of the Lord of which the wise man speaks, which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it.
And the Christian is not left without a “norm” to which he seeks to become adjusted. The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the norm, the ideally perfect model, and the worshiping soul yearns to be like Him. Indeed the whole drive behind the Christian life is this longing to be conformed to the image of Christ. The energy with which the believing man revolts against conformity to the image of unregenerate society will be in exact proportion to the intensity of his yearning to be like Christ.
The classic expression of this burning desire to be Christlike is, of course, Paul’s personal testimony in his letter to the Philippian Christians which begins, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ,” and ends with the fervent declaration, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 3:14).–A W Tozer
