Wait, There's More

Philippians 3:4b-14

Don't you just love those infomercials and how they sell their wares. They begin by showing us something as basic as a non-stick frying pan, one that's very similar to that which we just cooked our omelette in. We are invited to witness all the ways this new and improved frying pan will cook better food for us and save us money and time. We are then taken through a slew of recipes this frying pan can now make.

Because the sellers of the frying pan know we won't pay $19.99 for something so basic (plus shipping and handling) there will undoubtedly be the recitation of those words we wait to hear..."But wait, there's more!" And there usually is; a second frying pan to "keep for ourselves or give as a gift", an electric blender to mix the pancakes or scramble the eggs we're going to cook in our new frying pan, a cookbook which will show 101 different meals we can prepare in our frying pan.

But wait, there's more! Usually, if we wait until close to the end of the infomercial we might hear these words..."And, as a TV exclusive, if you call within the next 5 minutes we'll cut the price, not $19.99, not $14.99, but for a limited time you can get all of this for only one payment of $9.99 (plus shipping and handling).

In our passage today we hear the words of Paul as he says, "But wait, there's more!"

Paul goes through a list of all the great things he is, or used to be. He makes the point that he is just like one of them, but through his deep belief in the resurrection of Christ and all that means to him he has become new and improved. Too many times we hear the message, or infomercial, of the life we can have in Christ, a life filled with joy in love and peace, that we turn off the message and glaze over all the benefits we can get.

Unfortunately we wait until we hear those all-important words which promise us more until we begin to pay attention. Even after all that can possibly be offered is done we wait to hear the words which tell us our investment in such a promise is now less than it was in the beginning. My guess, though, is that you're like me and at this point you say, "If they're willing to give up so much and lessen the value of what is being given, does this mean something might be wrong with it?"

A life in Christ is will not be an easy one. Nothing will be given away, nor will the cost of what it takes be lessened in any way. However, you will be able to make payments which are comfortable to you, at a pace which you are comfortable at. Just give it a try, and even if you don't like the new life in Christ, keep the unconditional love as our gift to you.