Sermon by Donald R. Hart – Antioch Christian Church, Pittsburg, Missouri – March 18, 2007
(All Scripture quoted is from the NIV unless otherwise noted)
LIFE DEFINED
Text: Philippians 1:12-30
INTRODUCTION
How does one define life or can anyone really define life? Webster defines “life” this way – “1. The property or quality by which living organisms are distinguished from dead organisms or inanimate matter, esp. as shown in the ability to grow, carry on metabolism, respond to stimuli, and reproduce. 2. Living organisms as a whole
So in essence Webster describes life as “animate” as opposed to “dead”. This definition does not take in account that animals and human beings have personalities, emotions and purpose for living.
The legendary singer Peggy Lee won a Grammy in 1969 for the song “Is That All There Is?” The song details several events in life which includes a house fire, a trip to the circus, falling in love and when one draws their last breath – each spoken verse is followed by the singing of this haunting question and this suggestion:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball
If that’s all there is
Robert Heinlein is quoted as saying, “The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive” (“Job”, 1984)
Denn Guptill shared, “I think we all share the sentiments of the tombstone that read ‘I expected this but not yet’” (SermonCentral.com: Illustrations)
Not all quotations about life have been negative, for example:
Norman Thomas (1884-1968), “The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values.”
Oswald Spengler, a German historian and philosopher (1880-1936), “This is our purpose: to make as meaningful as possible this life that has been bestowed upon us; to live in such a way that we may be proud of ourselves; to act in such a way that some part of us lives on.”
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
William Cowper (1731-1800) a poet and song writer and a contemporary with John Newton, said – “The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.”
With these thoughts in mind, consider what the Apostle Paul was talking about in our text. At the time of this writing he is a prisoner, in chains, and with some of his brothers in the Lord stirring up trouble for him. There is even the threat of death hanging over his head and yet he is positive in his outlook on things. He is able to face either life or death with a resolve of purpose and an attitude of victory for whatever is the outcome.
PROPOSITION
His declaration in verse 21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” is a key as to what drove this great apostle. He saw that whatever happened to him was a win, win situation. In this message I would like to consider some facts about life that will help us define life with the same kind of positive attitude.
I. CONSIDER SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT LIFE
As with every age, many people fall into the trap of believing that the main goals of life should be the gaining possessions and/or achieving fame. We heard the saying “He who has the most toys wins”. Then there is the other saying that says, “He who has the most toys when he dies, still dies”. We have a tendency to equate financial status with success and yet we have seen so many who seem to have it all, only to be the most dissatisfied of all.
We are to seek to provide for our needs and to be good stewards of our resources, but possessions and/or fame will never be a sound measure of life. Both can be taken away in short order and one be left with nothing. It has been interesting to see the TV programs that have followed the lives of some who have won very large amounts of money from the lottery. That which should have solved their problems only became the medium for a whole new set of problems – often with devastating outcomes.
Jesus warned against making material things as a measure of ones life. In Matthew 6:19-21 we read, 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Seeking to have prestige or fame is a poor measure of life and yet people still clamor to be on American Idol and other such types of programs. Having lived as long as I have and having lived in Hollywood during part of my early years, I can tell you that being famous is not all it is cracked up to be. As with money, fame can be quickly stripped away, leaving a person with only hollow memories of days gone by.
My grandparents ran a little newsstand inside an older hotel on Hollywood Boulevard one block east of Vine Street. This was during WW II and the hotel had become a residential facility, mainly for older Hollywood celebrities – the ones you might refer to as being a “has been”. Their fame was gone and their days were spent in trying to relive their past. They might hope to sometime get another “casting call”, but it wasn’t going to happen and somehow they knew it.
There are others who believe that the ultimate goal in life is to live and fulfill all of life’s pleasures. Solomon in the Old Testament tried that only to declare that it all was “a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).
Although unbridled pleasure may give a person a feeling of euphoria for a time, eventually the results of dissipation set in and it is sad to see the devastation that results from such a lifestyle. The way of godliness will always prove to be the best way to live.
II. CONSIDER THAT LIFE WILL HAVE HIGHS AND LOWS
There are those moments in life when all seems well and we have a tremendous sense of well-being. These are the moments for celebrating – a holiday time, a graduation, the joining of a man and woman in marriage, the birth of a child or a grandchild, or some other momentous occasion.
There are also some very simple times when we are glad to be alive and we get an overwhelming feeling of joy. It may sitting with a cup of coffee on a quiet morning watching the birds at the birdfeeder, or a walk in the woods, or maybe seeing a sunrise or a sunset.
But along with the highs there are also those times of crises, heartache and trouble. Both highs and lows come as a part of living.
Robert Garret in SermonCentral.com: Illustrations shares that you know you are in trouble when:
You see a “60 Minutes” news team waiting in your office.
Your birthday cake collapses from the weight of the candles.
You wake up and discover your waterbed broke and then
realize that you don’t have a waterbed.
Your income tax check bounces.
Your twin brother or sister forgets your birthday.
The bird singing outside your window is a buzzard.
As I shared in the introduction, the Apostle Paul is writing this letter in one of his difficult times and how is he handling it. First of all he sees that his difficulty has actually led to the advancing of the gospel – from the palace guard hearing the truth and the brothers being embolden in sharing the message. And as to those brothers who are preaching Christ from envy, Paul observes that at least they are proclaiming Christ.
Furthermore, Paul is facing possible execution for the gospel’s sake and how does he see this? Either living or dying is a plus for him. If he lives, then he has more opportunity for fruitful labor. If he dies, he goes to be with Christ. And he is torn between the two options.
In all fairness, it is a struggle to see the bright side of things when things go bad. Whether it is a serious illness, a sudden death or some other calamity that befalls us and yet we have the promise in Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
It is during the bad times that we must draw upon our faith, to try to see life from God’s perspective and to draw upon His strength. Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”
III. CONSIDER THAT LIFE IS BRIEF
We are familiar with the scripture in James 4:14 that says,
What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
I know that it is hard to think of our own demise. That is why many people do not take the time to prepare a will or to pre-plan for that which will eventually happen. Now I am not talking about planning for our eternal destiny here, but about the practical settlement of our affairs for when we have passed on.
No matter how strong or robust we may be, we must realize that life is very fragile and we never know when it may be taken from us. I remember when we lived in Iowa, two women were driving under an overpass and a truck went over the railing above, falling upon their car, killing them – they never saw it coming.
The first funeral I ever went to was when I was in Junior High and it was for a 9 year-old boy who had been hit by an automobile. The second funeral I went to was for my grandfather who was 76 at the time. Since then, as a minister, I have conducted funerals for young and old alike, always realizing that since the fall in the garden, death has been a part of life. In a couple of weeks we will celebrate the resurrection of the one who conquered death for us and gives us the hope of life beyond the grave.
You have probably heard the comment that “Once you’re over the hill, you pick up speed”. Someone else then added, “I never even knew when I made it to the top”. When we were children it seemed like forever between birthdays and Christmas, now as adults we marvel at how fast they come around. I do not know how many Christmas letters we received this last year that began with a comment as to how quick the year had gone by.
Life passes us by quickly and even at it longest, it is very short, that is why we are exhorted this way in Psalm 90:12 –
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
IV. CONSIDER THAT LIFE SHOULD HAVE A PURPOSE
When I talk about a purpose I mean a purpose for Jesus Christ. Paul in our text tells his readers, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27)
The psalmist tells us in Psalm 34:3 to:
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
The Apostle Peters asks us to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us”
(1 Peter 2:12)
I would ask you to look at our text again and see if you sense any anxiety on the part of the Apostle Paul? Rather than anxiety one notices an air of confidence – “to live is Christ and to die is gain”. When we are living a life on purpose for Jesus Christ, we will have joy and peace.
Yesterday I received a DVD from Dr. Kelly Briden. He was our family physician until he moved to Michigan a little over year ago. In December, he and some others went on a mission trip to Liberia and to the Sudan in Africa. The DVD is a photo account of his trip. In watching it one immediately notices the poverty like conditions in which the people live.
Not only are their homes (more like huts in most cases) and villages primitive, but they have suffered greatly from recent civil wars and oppression by evil men.
However, as one looks into the faces of these Christian people, you cannot help but notice the peace and serenity that is evident. How can they be that way? It is because they have made Christ an integral part of their lives. They have a purpose like that of the Apostle Paul and whatever may come their way, they can put it into an eternal perspective.
What then should be the purpose of our life? What is it that really defines life? It is when we put Jesus Christ first in our lives and His work becomes the driving force of our living.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:33-34)
CONCLUSION
Brent Hutsell in SermonCentral.com Illustrations relates a tale about a king who had all his world could afford. The thing he loved most, however, was to laugh.
Once while being entertained a jester came along wishing to join in the festival of activities and also wishing to perform for him. His opportunity came and he put the best comical show together he had ever done and the king had never laughed so hard.
After the activity was over the king wanted to hire this jester to be his personal jester. Once hired the king in humor handed him a small stick and said, “You are the most foolish man alive. When you find someone more foolish than you, then you give them this stick.”
After many years had passed the king lay sick on his death bed, ready to go at any moment. He called for his jester, for he wanted to laugh one more time before he died.
When the jester was through he asked to speak to the king privately. Once alone with the king the jester asked, “King, where are you going?” The king responded, “On a far journey.” The jester then asked, “And how do you plan to get there?” Again the king responded, “I don’t know.”
The jester pulled the stick from his back pocket and handed it to the king. The king was stunned and asked why he had given him the stick. The jester replied, “King, today I have found a more foolish man than I. For you see, I only trifled with the things of life, but you have trifled with the things of eternity!”
Let me ask you, are you trifling with the things of eternity today by not defining life properly? If you have never given your life to Jesus, or you are not being serious in your purpose of serving Christ, then you are trifling with the things of eternity.
Why not give your life to the Master today. Believe on Him, Surrender your life to Him, confess His name as Lord and be baptized for the remission of your sins.
Our song of decision is “Living For Jesus” and I would ask you, are you living for Him?
