WHO DO YOU TRUST

Philippians 3: 1 – 11

Ayn Rand, an American philosopher who died in 1982, gathered a sizable following who read her books and attended her lectures. An avid individualist, she had this to say: “Now I see the free face of god and I raise this god over all the earth, this god who men have sought since men came into being, the god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. This god, this one word, I.” When asked if she believed in God, she answered, “This god is myself, I.” Egotism—faith in oneself—that’s what this philosopher believed in.

Just as it takes a chef to mess up a really good meal, it takes a philosopher to mess up the belief in God. Would any one trust that I could save their eternal soul? Would I trust myself, or anyone else?
Which one of you would bow down at the temple of Roadblock?
These things are of course ridiculous. Even though I do believe that we should have faith in ourselves, so as not to cower in the corner when called on to act in the service of God, I do not believe that there is anything to boast of in this. Like Paul I put my trust in Jesus Christ who is God incarnate, the true God of love and mercy.

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 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 and is by faith.

Now, I ask you, who do you put your trust in; God, or yourself?

We are saved not by what we do but by trusting what Christ has done.