WE HADDEN TECHNISCHE PROBLEMEN. DE BACK-UP STAAT ER NU OP, MAAR DIE OPNAME IS NIET ZO GOED ALS GEWOONLIJK. MIJN EXCUSES VOOR HET ONGEMAK.
WALKING WITH HOMESICKNESS
Philippians 3:17-4:1
In the passage we will look at today Paul finishes out a theme that he has carried through the entire epistle. Allow me to give you a brief overview of the first three chapters of Philippians:
Paul’s thanksgiving prayer 1:3-11
A discussion of life and death and the gain of either 1:21
Walking worthy of the Gospel of Christ 1:27a
Stand firm in one spirit 1:27b
Jesus our prime example of humility 2:5-11
Spiritual examples - men worth emulating 2:19-30
Bad examples - men to avoid 3:2-6
Jesus our goal and prize 3:8-11
pursuing and grasping 3:12-14
Paul brings the worthy walk back into focus and starts connecting the dots in this wonderful concluding statement that introduces chapter four.
Paul draw a black-and-white picture; there are only two ways of walking. Walking is a euphemism for the conduct of one’s life and in 1:27 he challenged the reader to walk as a worthy citizen. Now he lays out two options:
IMITATORS OF THE CROSS
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
Enemies of the Cross
Though Paul introduces imitating first, he explains enemies first in verse 19. Paul describes four things about those who walk this way:
Their end is Destruction
Their lives and pursuits don’t end well. Their gaze is short and their investment in temporary things. None of their pursuits have eternal value.
Their God is their Belly
Their worship is directed inward. Their passions and lusts are what they strive for and grasp. If it feels good, it must be good. This is the central ideology of hedonism - do what pleases you… whatever makes your inward parts tingle. It is this way of thinking - this way of walking - that leads to rampant sex, binge drinking, violence and homosexuality. As the writer of Judges put it: Everyone does what is right in their own eyes.
They glory is their Shame
They are proud of that which they should be ashamed of. That which brings feelings of guilt and failure to the Christian, brings a sense of accomplishment to the unregenerate man. They become proud of their accomplishments in sin.
They mind earthly Things
Does anything need to be said? They are not spiritually minded, but only think of things they can see and touch. “Show me the proof!” is the indictment so often hurled against us.
Imitators of the Cross
Paul then switches gears to “us”: our citizenship is in heaven. He draws a sharp contrast between this and the latter.
Our end is Eternal
Citizenship brings our mind back to walking worthy… as a good citizen (1:27). What a joy to already (as we sung this morning) have our passport stamped. We are registered in the heavenlies, our name is written in His Book of Life. All our investments have lasting value and our pursuit of Christ will continue beyond our own deaths.
Our God is Christ
It’s not what I want, but what He wants. He began a good work (1:6) and will accomplish it, He humiliated Himself to the point of obedience (2:5-11), He grasped us first (3:12). I no longer live for me and my passions, but I submit my passions to His perfect plan and will for my life.
He honors us
What He performs in me pales in comparison to what I could do in me.
He draws us by His power
His eternal power draws our attention and our gaze beyond what is terrestrial into what is extra-terrestrial. God is able to do so much more than what we can see here on earth. We ought not to be earthly-minded, but Christ-minded.
In 4:1 Paul brings back the verb he introduced in 1:27b: stand firm. This heavenly-mindedness, ought to make us stand firm now… we should walk with a healthy dose of home-sickness… we don’t belong here, we belong with Him.
And that brings Valentine’s Day into focus for me. I explained to my boys this morning that Valentine’s Day is a day when you tell the person you love that you love them… and try to show it. Guys… this afternoon, right? But how about we tell the One who saved our soul, ransomed our lives, traded his own, left His glory, reached for you, grasped your hand and has granted you heavenly citizenship that you love Him!
