Second Sunday in Lent – February 28, 2010

Philippians 3:¹⁷ Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. ^4:1Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

In my house, it isn’t uncommon to frequently hear my wife and I say to our children, “Watch where you are going; careful so you don’t get hurt; pay attention to what you are doing.” And for those of you with children, I imagine it’s not much different. But it isn’t only to children that we speak those words, is it? To friends and loved ones we say, “Drive carefully and watch out for the deer.” To teenagers who are learning to drive we say, “Pay attention to the road.” Repeatedly in life we are encouraging and being encouraged, warning and being warned to watch out and be careful. It should come as no surprise then, that while writing to his dear friends in Philippi, the Apostle Paul would tell them to be careful and to stand firm in the Lord with a walk of watchfulness.

Just what it is that Paul wants them to watch out for and be careful of comes across at the beginning of our lesson, “Join…in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you…As I have often told you before…many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” Watch out for the worldly crowd, he tells them! Be careful who you follow!

Paul recognized that there would be an abundance of examples that these Christians could follow, but that not all of them would be good. So, he gives them a good example – himself. At first, this might seem a bit boatful. But that isn’t what he is doing. We understand that when we hear similar words he spoke to the Corinthians: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). The reason the Philippians could follow his example was because he was following the example of Christ. And the reason they needed to be encouraged to follow his example, is because there are many enemies of the cross who want them to follow their example.

You see, Satan frequently teams up with this world in order to use it as one of his devious tools in his efforts to take our attention away from following Christ and walking a walk that pleases God. And these enemies of the cross take on many different forms. Some are false religions like Islam, Satanism, and Atheism. Yet, when we look at the way Paul describes these enemies of the cross, we see that he doesn’t so much have those false religions in mind, but is talking more of the ferocious wolves who come in sheep’s clothing. You know, like those who claim to be Christian, maybe even look Christian, but whose lifestyle, teachings, and goals contradict God’s Word. Paul gives some examples: he speaks of those who make the satisfaction of their physical desires their highest aim; then there’s those who use Christian liberty as a license to sin; those who take pride in things they should be ashamed of; and those who think lightly of continuing in sin because they don’t understand God’s grace.

Paul’s words give us opportunity to pause and ask ourselves what kind of examples we are following, because whether we want to admit it or not, all of us are influenced by examples. The real question is which ones? And the best way to find out which examples we follow is not so much by examining the people we look up to, but by analyzing the way we live. Perhaps, without even realizing it, we have started to follow the world’s example.

Has your stomach become your god? In other words, have your own desires become the most important thing in your life? It doesn’t take long to answer that? We know how many times that to deny ourselves some pleasure of this world and follow the path God has laid out for us is the farthest thing from our mind. That can be seen in the simplest of things: go to church…or do my own thing; give God the best of my offerings…or spend it on me; bring my children to Sunday School…or give myself an extra hour to sleep. Or how about those times we rush headlong into sin because we figure we can just ask God for forgiveness afterward: like when we say, “I probably shouldn’t really say this,” but then just go on to say it anyway as if recognizing we shouldn’t do it makes it ok to do it.

Is our glory in our shame? In others words, do we pride ourselves in things of which we should be ashamed? It doesn’t take long to answer that one either, does it? Here are some examples that might prick your conscience! The proud conversation you have with the co-worker or friend about how you reached your destination in record time. Of course, the only way you could have done that was to go well over the speed limit…and break the 4^th Commandment. The fond reminiscing of how good the old days were in high school and college because…it was so fun to get drunk and live care free. The praise and reputation we freely welcome or seek when we stand up to the teacher….with disrespect. So often we are far from being ashamed when it comes to the way we live, but instead just laugh it off and sweep it under the rug by saying, “No one’s perfect.”

Are our minds on earthly things? In other words, have the cross of Jesus Christ, the free forgiveness he has won, and the goal of heaven all taken a back burner to the things of this world? Honestly think about what it is that dominates your thoughts throughout the day. Seriously consider what you hold out for yourself as the main goal in your life. Truthfully reflect on what your priorities are. Now tell me – which place does Jesus get? What place does he get when you log onto the internet and surf that immoral site? What place does he get when you choose your television show on the basis of how much raunchy immorality it has because that has become entertainment to you? What place does he get when sports in public school outweigh God’s Word in Christian Education? What place does he get when you find yourselves comparing yourselves to others and conclude on that basis that all is well with you and God?

It’s a scary picture isn’t it? Scary because we know that more than once we have followed the examples Satan has placed before us through the enemies of the cross. Scary because we know what terrible examples we have left for our children and the generation to come. Scary because Paul reminds us that all those who want to continue following these examples will find their destiny in destruction, a destruction that finds its fulfillment in the never-ending flames of eternal separation from God in hell – and that is scary! So, in order to help us to stand firm in the Lord and walk a walk of watchfulness, Paul directs us to remember our heavenly citizenship: “But our citizenship is in heaven.”

Stop and consider the significance of that statement for a moment. Paul was writing to people who could understand the value of citizenship. Even though the city of Philippi was nearly 600 miles away from Rome, it was in many ways a miniature Rome on foreign soil. You see, Philippi was the location were Brutus and Cassius, who wanted to assassinate Julius Caesar, were defeated by Mark Antony and Octavian. After this battle, Mark Antony began settling veterans of the Roman army in the city of Philippi, and in time the city was filled with loyal Roman citizens. The people dressed like Romans, used Roman currency, adopted Latin as their official language, and received all the perks, privileges and rights of a Roman citizen. To remind them of their heavenly citizenship would have been particularly meaningful.

We know a little bit about patriotism to, don’t we? We take pride in being American citizens, and gladly receive certain privileges and advantages. But even greater is our citizenship in heaven. Greater because of the rights and privileges it gives us! Greater because of the way we were brought into it! And these words of Paul give us opportunity to once again recall the marvelous, loving, undeserving way we became heavenly citizens.

You see, unlike our American citizenship, into which most of us were born, we were not born as citizens of heaven. No, God had to bring us into us into his kingdom by preparing our citizenship papers all by himself. He prepared those papers when he sent his Son to be born in the manger in Bethlehem. They were arranged as Christ walked the road to the cross. He filled out those papers with the blood of Christ shed on the cross to pay for our sins, and signed and sealed them on Easter Sunday by raising Jesus from the grave.

Then, he gave those citizenship papers to us when the gift of faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord was created in our hearts. At that very moment we were united with Christ. By that faith created by the Holy Spirit, we became full possessors of everything he won for us with his perfect life, his death and his resurrection. Forgiveness became ours; a new life became ours; and our names were written down in heaven. As a result, Paul says we “eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

What Paul encourages us to focus on is when Christ will come again at the last day. For a believer, the one trusting in Jesus Christ and his work alone for salvation, the last day will be a joyous day. Because of what Jesus did the first time he came, we do not have to fear his second coming. We are not afraid of what the verdict will be, because we know that in Jesus we have the forgiveness of sins – yes, forgiveness even for the times we have made our stomach our god, took pride in what we should be ashamed of, and misplaced our priorities. We are not afraid because Christ’s robe of righteousness will cover us as we stand before our mighty God.

Indeed, we eagerly await that day because we know, whether we have died or are still living, we will be given a glorious body so we can live with Jesus forever free from the presence of sin and its effects. Jesus conquered sin, defeated death, and won the victory over Satan, therefore the grave cannot hold us and Satan cannot claim us. And this truth makes all the difference for us right now too. Because our citizenship is in heaven, we are able to view our time on earth from heaven’s point of view.

Think about that. There is tremendous energy in the present power of a future promise. Living on earth as citizens of heaven we can now face every enemy of the cross, every sorrow that comes because of sin, and even death without dismay. Is your body breaking down because of old age and illness – do not be discouraged, heaven is your home. Are you in the prime of your life and afflicted with a debilitating disease – do not lose heart, your sins are forgiven and Christ is coming again to take you home. Is your life on earth quickly come to a close – don’t be afraid, Jesus removed the sting of death with his resurrection and promises that when this life ends his angels will carry you to his side and your body will wait to be remade into a glorious one on the last day. Are the enemies of the cross enticing you with the sinful pleasures of this world – tell them to bug off, you don’t need them, your walk is heavenward. Are the enemies of the cross tantalizing you to think that you are missing something by living according to God’s will – tell them to get lost, because you are content to wait for the better things of heaven. Are the enemies of the cross tempting you to live for the things of this world – tell them to beat it because nothing they offer can compare to an eternity with your Savior. Are the enemies of the cross whispering in your ear that you need to do something to earn God’s favor – tell them “Be gone,” because through Jesus your salvation has already been earned and your reservation in heaven already made.

Therefore, my dear friends, you whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, here is your prescription, written by God, on how you should stand firm in the Lord. What can the world offer you that God hasn’t already given you? Amen.