In

Philippians 3:8 the original Greek text includes a word that is not

very nice. Often trans­lated as “garbage,” the Greek word

actually means some­thing closer to a steaming pile of manure. It

is not a word for polite company, but what makes it so striking is

that Paul uses this word to describe his former religious

accomplishments. Earlier in his life, his status as a Pharisee and a

near-perfect keeper of God’s law were his prize achievements. He

was sure it all added up to a shiny gold ticket to heaven.

Then,

in a vision, he met Jesus, the ascended Son of God, who had made

salvation possible by giving up his own life to pay the price for all

our sin. Once Paul realized how costly it ­really was to take

away human sin, he knew that any idea he’d ever entertained that we

humans could pay for sin on our own was false. In fact, any idea like

that was beyond false: it was garbage, useless, futile, hollow, a

stinking pile of ­manure.

We

can be thankful for all that the Spirit helps us do in our lives. We

need not belittle the fruit of the Spirit we produce. But, Paul

urges, do not for one second think that such things reunite you with

God. That required a cross and the Son of God’s sacrifice once for

all. To God be all the glory!