AGAIN I SAY REJOICE
LOOK TO THE FUTURE; LIVE IN THE PRESENT
PHILIPPIANS 1:19-26
INTRODUCTION
- I’m sure many, if not all of you, are familiar with the famous Peanuts cartoons. If you have read one of these cartoons before, you know that often Charlie Brown is the frustrated character and Lucy is the quick witted one. I can certainly appreciate some of the frustrations that Charlie combats. Like the one where Lucy is philosophizing and Charlie is listening. As usual, Lucy has the floor and is delivering one of her lectures.
- She says “Charlie Brown, life is a lot like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they’re going. Others place it to see where they’ve been. And some so they can see where they are at the present.” And Charlie, not impressed with the thoughtful statement, sighs and says “Lucy, I can’t even get my deck chair unfolded.”
- In addition to the humor of Charlie’s dilemma, what Lucy says has, as it often does, some truth to it. Some people are constantly looking back at the past; for good and bad reasons. They are so caught up in what used to be that they are missing what is, and have no room to think about what is to come.
- There are others who live for the moment. The only thing they are concerned about is what’s going on right now. The past is gone, so why bother reminiscing? The future is out of our hands, so why bother worrying? All we have is right now.
- There are still others who insist on focusing on the future alone. The past is so far gone that it doesn’t get a second thought, and the present is constantly slipping away ;so it’s best to keep our attention on what lies ahead.
- As is usually the case, all three of these extremes are to be avoided. In fact, we are going to get a close up look this morning of what a godly life looks like with respect to these things. How is a believer in Jesus Christ supposed to understand his or her time on this earth? What should a Christian be focused on?
- If you have your Bible, look at Philippians 1; beginning at the end of verse 18.
Read Philippians 1:18-26
- Here we see the Apostle Paul, after reminding the Philippians believers that his seemingly unfortunate circumstances were actually furthering the gospel message, building on that thought by saying that no matter what happens to him, God will be at work. Remember he told the saints that God was using him, even in house arrest. Whether he was in prison or free Christ was being proclaimed. Now he goes further by saying that whether he is alive or put to death, Christ will be proclaimed and glorified.
- In the key phrase of this passage he writes “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” He says in essence “Look, if I ever get out of here, that would be great; and it would benefit you all very much. But at the same time, if I don’t ever get out, and I am put to death, that would be great too. As a matter of fact, I am not sure which I would rather have happen; because to be with Christ is better than anything this world can offer.”
- He is facing a dilemma here in his mind: “What do I want more: to live on and minister the gospel, or die and be with Christ?” And his response to this dilemma gives us great insight into what a godly mindset looks like concerning our view of life and death.
- At the end of v.18 through v.19 Paul tells them that he expects to be released. He says that through their prayers and with the help of the Spirit of Christ, he anticipates deliverance. He expects to be saved out of the situation he is in.
- This little word deliverance is really where our understanding of this whole passage begins. It is the word σωτηρίαν; the word usually translated salvation. And our understanding of how Paul uses this word is important for getting the point of what he is writing here.
- σωτηρία does not always refer to salvation from sin. It can mean a variety of different things. Usually the context makes it clear as to what kind of salvation or deliverance is in view. In this case, Paul is speaking of deliverance from his imprisonment.
- But he is not saying here that he expects to be released. That statement comes a few verses later. Verse 20 tells us what he means by deliverance: as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
- He means that one way or another, through their prayers and the work of the Spirit in his life, his circumstances are temporary. Because either he is going to be physically released – in which case he would be delivered; or he is going to be put to death – in which case he would still be delivered.
- One way or another, the chains would not hold him forever. Christ was going to be honored in his body. If that meant release, he would continue to serve Christ faithfully. If that meant execution, he would see Christ face to face in glory. Nothing the authorities could do would keep him from honoring his Lord.
- And then he writes what we’ve already noted as the key phrase in v.21: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. We are going to take that phrase backwards, because that’s sort of how he continues on to the end of the passage. So we have two things to consider: to die is gain and to live is Christ.
- The first thing we learn from Paul is that:
TO DIE IS GAIN: SO LONG FOR YOUR FUTURE HOME
- Look at vv.22-23: If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
- What strikes me about that statement is not only does he say that to die and be with Christ is better than to stay and live, it is far better. It is very much better. There is no comparison. And I ask myself “Could I truthfully make that statement?”
- See some of us have gotten so comfortable in this world that we aren’t quite ready to be with Christ. Some of us would even dare to view eternity as an inconvenience that interrupts all of the fun we’re having on earth. If that’s the way you think you are revealing that you have become far too attached to this life.
- Paul wrote that even though continuing to live would mean fruitful labor for him, he couldn’t decide what he would rather have happen. He says that he is hard pressed between the two prospects. Hard pressed literally means to be pushed together. The word was used to describe a narrow cleft where the walls closely surrounded you.
- In other words, he felt immense pressure because he knew living would be beneficial but he longed to be with Christ. And Scripture is quick to encourage us to look ahead as well; to not get bogged down with this life, but to anticipate the life we have to come.
- Listen to Colossians 3:1-4: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
- The text goes on to say that when your focus is heavenward it will change the way you live here on earth. You will put away all of the things that characterize your earthly, fleshly body and you will live with an eternal perspective.
- Also notice 1 John 2:15-17. We’ve heard from Paul, let’s hear from John: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- The world here is the world system. The way the world does things. Don’t spend your energy on things that are going to pass away. Don’t waste your life being consumed by the pleasures around you. Pursue the will of God, because the things of God are eternal.
- Then of course there is Matthew 6:19-21. Paul tells us not to be attached to the world. John says the same thing. What about Jesus himself? Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Don’t spend your time storing up material things on this earth. Why? Again because of their temporary nature. Treasure what is in heaven; or maybe better, who is in heaven: Jesus. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Whatever you value most will have your affections. Jesus would tell us “Make sure it’s me.”
- So we are not to become attached to earthly materials, to earthly mindsets, or earthly matters. Because all of those things will pass; they will fade away. We are to look forward to the future that God has for us as Paul did. We are to long for our real home. Paul will go on to say later in this same letter that our citizenship is in heaven. That’s where we really belong.
- So to die is gain; therefore we long for our future home. We don’t forget, however, that to live is Christ; and so we serve him faithfully while we are alive.
TO LIVE IS CHRIST: SO SERVE HIM FAITHFULLY NOW
- Look again at vv.24-26: But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
- Even though Paul had this intense desire to leave this life and be with Christ forever, he knew that as long as he was alive he still had work to do. This is where we see that Paul anticipated that he would be released from house arrest eventually. He knew that if he returned to the Philippians safe and sound that this would cause them great joy.
- See it’s not that Paul was opposed to being alive if Christ wanted him alive. It’s just that he knew that death would bring him life like he’d never experienced before. But Paul was an obedient servant of Christ. So if Christ had more work for him to do on this earth, he would gladly stay and do it.
- Paul was not so caught up with heaven that he was of no good here on earth. And he certainly wasn’t suicidal about the matter. He wasn’t trying to rush his death; but he earnestly desired the eternal life that death would bring him. He realized that being with Christ is better than anything else, but that same Christ had ordained that he remain on earth to continue working for a time.
- It’s been said that you know God still has plans for your if you still have air in your lungs. If you’re still alive, you still have work to do. In fact, we are encouraged to work now, because the hour is coming when no one can. It should always be said of us, if we have faith in Jesus, that to live is Christ.
- As long as we are alive we should be living for, working for, serving, worshiping, and following Jesus Christ. We live Christ. We eat, sleep, and breathe Christ. Christ is our reason for existing. In Christ is wrapped up our entire purpose for being alive.
- Listen to the words of Ephesians 5: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
- Time is such a precious thing. This moment, this hour, this day will never happen again. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. So we need to make the most of it for Christ. We need to, literally, redeem the time; so that we can look back tomorrow on what we did today and be satisfied in knowing that we did what we could for the Lord.
- We spent that last few months of 2008 into 2009 looking at the book of James. Recall what James wrote in 4:13-17: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
- Remember James instructs us that not doing what we know we should be doing is sin. These are called sins of omission; omitting doing what we should. He writes “Your life is a vapor. It disappears quickly and without a trace. And you cannot do anything without the Lord willing it, so you need to be humble and be sure to take advantage of today; because you don’t know if there will be a tomorrow for you.”
- And there’s more than one point to be made here. When we’re not doing what we ought to be doing, odds are we are doing what we should not be doing. You’ve heard it said that “Idle hands are the devil’s playground.” There is truth there. Doing what we are supposed to be doing with our time helps us avoid falling into sin; and doing things we shouldn’t.
- One more passage of Scripture in this regard: 2 Peter 3:10-14. Peter writes: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
- This is a good way to sum up our truth from Philippians 1. The day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night. All that we see will be destroyed and we will see a new heaven and a new earth. Then notice again what Peter said: Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
- Because you long for eternal home you will live faithfully here. The Lord’s return is coming soon and we are looking for it. We are expecting it. We are desiring it. And because we look for his return we are diligently working to be found ready when he comes. We are living a life that God will be pleased with should he return during our lifetime.
CONCLUSION
- So we learn from Paul’s dilemma that there is a tension that exists in the life of a Christian; and it can be a healthy tension. We long to be with Jesus Christ and worship him in heaven; but we also long to serve and obey him during our time on earth.
- Then we ask ourselves this question: Are we looking forward to the future God has prepared for us? Or are we so caught up with the world around us that we’ve lost our heavenly focus?
- On the other hand: Are we living faithfully here and now? Are we using the time that God has given us to work for his glory? Or are we so wrapped up in eternity that we’re forgetting to redeem our time?
- The reason we are not with Christ in heaven yet, though we long to be, is because others need to come along for the ride. There are people left to be reached with the gospel. So we look to the future but we live in the present.
- It can be done. So let’s ask for the wisdom to balance the truth that to live is Christ, but to die is gain.
