It's A Wonderful Life When We Discover A Divine Perspective Series

It's A Wonderful Life When We Discover a Divine Perspective

December 14th

Late in the movie It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey's uncle Billy has lost an $8,000 deposit on the day of the Bank Examiners visit. When it can't be found he despairs, considers suicide and ultimately thinks that the World would have been better if he had never been born.

An angel is sent with his answer.

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Phil 3:7-14

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. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 THERE ARE FOUR POWERFUL THINGS ABOUT A DIVINE PERSPECTIVE THAT MAKES IT A WONDERFUL LIFE.

I. Divine Perspective changes our value system.

Phil 3:7

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

A. How we define success changes.

Phil 3:4-6

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 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; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

NIV

How to Americans define a successful life.

Nearly one-third of all adults (32%) said that their life would be a success if they were able to have a strong family unit, a solid and lasting marriage or if they had done a good job of raising their children.

Not far behind was some indication of tangible accomplishment during one's life.

One out of every seven adults (14%) stated that success was due to personal emotional fulfillment. This was most often reflected in obtaining a prestigious job or achieving a state of happiness or satisfaction with life.

Similar and smaller numbers of people said that success was a result of spiritual experiences or development (7%) or experiencing good health (8%).

Also of significance was the finding that one-quarter of the adult population has no idea what would make their life successful.

B. Our basis of self worth is changes.

Discovered the righteousness of Christ. It's the undiscovered treasure.

On the Antique Road show. People sometimes walk in with items they have no idea what they are and discover a real treasure. The Biggest find ever was a hand-woven Navajo Ute First Phase wearing blanket that was made for a Chief. The dialogue right after the appraisal goes a little something like this..

"I had no idea, it was just laying on the back of a chair."

"Well, sir you have a national treasure. A national treasure. When you walked in with this, I just about died. Congratulations."

The owner discovered that the blanket that had been hanging on the back of the chair was worth $500,000

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.

Out basis of self worth changes from what we deserve, earn of live up to an imparted value that is truly amazing. His righteousness becomes ours.

II. Divine Perspective Alters our Purpose --

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.

A. Obsession -- To know Him.

When we first fall in love we can become almost obsessed with thinking about her or him. We call all the time; we want to know all about. We daydream about them. We can't tear our minds from them.

Paul reveals a similar obsessions he want to Know Christ