Real Surrender: Philippians 3:7-8

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count ALL things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LOrd, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:7-8

I've been thinking that I want to watch the movie Into the Wild lately. I want to revisit that wildness, that simplicity, all at times seems to live deep inside of me (and at others so far away from me!). I know a movie can't make me simple again, but I remember reading that book in college and thinking it was so extravagant and notable that someone would simply pack up a few things in his Datsun and hit the road for simplicity. That he sought simplicity instead of choosing the American status dream. At that time (college) I was spending every single one of my summers in Colorado too, and the adventurer in the book chose Alaska as his final destination (and it was, he ended up dying there)- which always had some mountainy hard-core appeal to me. Anyhow, I've been reading Philippians 3 with the same desire to let go. To be simple. To make my highest desire (God) TRULY be the make up of all of my time and all of my energy. To live out that thing that can seem so unattainable: the first commandment - the life of the love of God. To throw everything away in pursuit of God. Just like Paul proclaimed, and more than that, lived. Just like the adventurer forgetting the lust of the American dream and turning his back on it and heading west.

Real surrender. The "stuff" that the saints talk about in the Bible not being a metaphor, figurative, or something we can't attain, but what is REALITY.

In Paul's letter to the Philippians he starts out by giving his resume so to speak. He gives all the reasons why he is confident in his Jewish heritage. A Pharisee of Pharisees, a Hebrew of Hebrews. In the line of Benjamin - the line where the temple of God stood. He persecuted anything and anyone that didn't follow the law and for it he had amazing high standing within the Hebrew world. And that's what he's talking about in verse 7. He's talking about the things that make him him. He's talking about his "identity". What man sees. But Paul says he counts it as nothing. All of his high standing, all of his privileges, all of his merit: nothing. He actually gives it up all the good stuff we strive after to suffer in prison for preaching the gospel. He doesn't just count it loss but he really chucks all of his success and high standing out the window. For real.
In verse 8 at first i thought Paul was repeating himself - but now he's speaking of not just his reputation as a Jew, but ALL things. Everything - all worldly enjoyments and mere privileges whatsoever. Things that can stand on the throne of one's heart. Things that may even be good but take a front seat. He's getting personal.
So Paul, the saint, the author, the Hebrew of Hebrews and to us Christians, really, the Christian of Christians is talking about laying it all down and...suffering loss of all things. (Side note: Paul later talks about how he hasn't attained all of this but how he is pressing on to lay hold of it -- be encouraged) And this is where my questions start to arise.
Are we as Christians willing to live this out - and do we? Do we think we do? Do we suffer loss of all things? Do I? What does that look like? Are we a generation that is pursuing God as the Bible REALLY speaks of? Are we living the First commandment? Do I talk myself out of it - making it comfortable as a figure of speech? And if we were really to lay everything down would He catch us? And what in the world would we be doing with our lives? Would it all look different?
I have many more but for now I say this: Oh God make me simple, walking in love and truly seeking the Knowledge of You above all else.