Without the Creator in mind creation has no genuine purpose. Men who “[do] not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Romans 1:28) seek fulfillment in physical substance. The failure to realize mankind are spiritual beings in a physical tent is an ignorance which leads to immense destruction. Men foolishly attempt to make a home in this world when in reality the world makes a home in them – a recipe for hopeless depression.

The Christian is one whose ignorance has been eradicated with the preaching of the gospel. His mind is filled with the knowledge of Christ. The message of the cross gives him a sense of self-awareness which did not exist before. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). This fact is inclusive of all, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The strength which all lack is that which only exists with Christ. The absence of such strength is no mere atrophy of physical muscle. It is the product of sin. It is the reality of every man who has severed themselves from the life-giving source. The Christian is one whose knowledge of such causes them to appeal to the Great Physician for much needed help – for salvation.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The goal is kingdom citizenship, for the King on that throne is Christ, and He is gracious and merciful. A prerequisite to citizenship is acknowledgment of spiritual deficiency. Those unwilling to admit to severe need in spiritual poverty are not fit for such a kingdom – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Such refusal to acknowledge truth, and humble oneself in submission is a decisive step toward condemnation. The resolve is made due to the deception of worldly lusts. The adversary fogs the mind’s perspective rendering it unable to discern between substantive and trivial matters. The result is an ironic perception of affluence in a state of scarcity – “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

The honest of heart look into the mirror of God’s word (cf. James 1:22-25) and see an emaciated, filthy, downtrodden soul dressed in rags, broken and marred by sin, destitute, and helpless. A soul in dire need of salvation from the corroded shackles of sin. And instead of settling with the false perception of righteousness projected by the world and forgetting what he saw in that truth-telling mirror, he falls to his knees in humble faithful obedience before his Lord.

And when that petition for a good conscience before God in baptism (cf. 1 Peter 3:21) is observed, righteousness is imputed to that believer (cf. Romans 4:11-12). Thus, a man once without hope reduced to the filthy rags of sin is clothed in white robes of righteousness. The homeless orphan is adopted and becomes a beloved son (cf. Romans 8:15-17) in the house of God (cf. Hebrews 3:6), whose inheritance is a beautiful crown (cf. 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 2:10; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

A true story of rags to riches is seldom told. This should not be so. For that “grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11) and is at the ready to be accessed by faith (cf. Romans 5:2). Many mansions are prepared, and there are vacancies for all (cf. John 14:1-6), but one must understand there is nothing but vanity in this life without God (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12:13) in order to begin laying up for himself treasures in heaven (cf. Matthew 6:19-21).