It’s January, and the warm memories of summers past fade as the ice crunches beneath under my feet. When I reflect on the balminess of those days, I inevitably think about my favorite vacation destination—the Great Smoky Mountains. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Blue Ridge Mountains have become fond harbingers of contentment for me. The Arts and Crafts architecture draw me into the 1930’s and 40’s, my favorite period in American history. Art Deco automobiles with names like Studebaker, Packard, and Desoto originally graced these majestic mountain highways. They glided like a painter’s brush along the hand laid stone walls and the giggling mountain streams. Just as they did in faded sepia photos, families still stop to gawk at black bears peeking through the kudzu.
Many years ago I made a modest living rebuilding and upholstering cars like these. My introduction to the Smokys occurred while attending a car show in Gatlinburg, Tennessee called “Shades of the Past.” This event continues to draw the finest custom-built Hot Rods in the nation. That first year, Marilyn, nine months pregnant with Jason, faithfully copiloted me to Gatlinburg in a rough-riding1932 Ford.
Each year Shades of the Past presents highly coveted prizes to “The Top 25.” The cars competing for this accolade are carved out by legendary craftsmen who feed on cubic dollars. I knew my cars would never qualify as one of the Top 25; nevertheless, I eyed the competition longingly like a shy debutant cowering behind a row of beautiful Southern belles. Year after year, the level of competition proved to be just beyond my reach—both in skill and dollars.
I had rescued an ugly 1938 Ford from the neighbor’s barn. Unable to afford chrome or machined aluminum parts, I scrounged the local junk yards for inspiration—power windows from a Honda, lumbar seats from a Daytona. I massaged its sleek body and hand-rubbed it with eye-blistering Porsche Red paint. Finally, I crafted the interior from buttery soft tan leather. After a year of evenings working in the garage, high hopes but very limited means, we packed our little boys (who now numbered two) in the back seat and drove South.
After the awards were given, a couple of the host club members sauntered by. “Ron,” they said, “as a rule, we never tell the contestants how they fared. But we want you to know, your ‘38 was the talk of the judges! They all agreed it was one of the most beautiful cars here. Too bad the plain painted undercarriage couldn’t stand up to the competition.”
You might think I was disappointed, but I wasn’t. I felt as though I’d won! I knew our car couldn’t hunt with the big dogs, but to learn that it garnered the judge’s admiration remains a pinnacle in my automotive career. It’s the best loss I ever suffered!
The Apostle Paul often speaks of how he walked away from his former life into a new life in Christ. I’d call that a good loss, wouldn’t you!
Heavenly Father, you gave your Son for me. Your loss for my gain is unimaginable. Thank you that you are willing to take our sin in exchange for your sinlessness! Amen.
Read Philippians 3:8
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”
- Think of something you’ve sacrificed or given up in order to gain something greater.
- When we lose for Christ, we always gain so much more. List a few things you’ve gained in Christ.
- When we give up something for Christ, does it always have to go away? Explain.
- Describe what you think Paul means when he declares “everything is worthless” compared to knowing Christ.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
- What do you think the Bible means when it refers to someone as being “in Christ”?
- What are some of the things we lose when we gain Christ?
- What do you think of when the Bible talks about “old things”?
- What old things have you “lost” because of being in Christ?
- What new things have you “gained” because of your life in Christ?
Read Philippians 1:21
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
- What do you think Paul means when he says, “to live is Christ”?
- What do you think he means when he says, “to die is gain”?
- Paul seems to imply there is no loss either way, how can that be?
- How are both living and dying a win for Paul?
Read 1 Timothy 6:6-7
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
- What would you say “godliness” looks like?
- How would you describe “godliness with contentment”?
- How does verse 7 help us set priorities?
- Can you make a connection between “godliness with contentment” and verse 7?
Jesus I can’t praise you enough as my Lord and Savior! Because of you, I’m assured of life forever. I lose nothing of eternal value and gain eternity in the bargain. Wow, what a remarkable exchange! Thank you, Amen.