THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LIVING IN JOY WITH CHRIST
A famous historian was asked by a seminary student to summarize human history in as few words as possible. Expecting a summation worthy of a Pulitzer prize, the student awaited the historian’s response with abated breath.
The historian went to the podium and, to the amazement of everyone in the room simply said, “They were born, they lived and they died”, then sat down.
All the historian did was to actually point out what we see on grave markers when we visit cemeteries – a birth date, a dash, and a death date.
Christians prefer to think of history in terms of a born-again date, life as we have lived it in Christ, and death as an experience of transition from the “here and now” to the “hereafter”.
In our study of Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, we have been focusing on the joy Christ brings to our lives. “I have the joy in my heart . . . love of Jesus in my heart . . . peace that surpasses understanding in my heart.”
Living in joy is what the Christian life is all about! What if it were inscribed on your tombstone a similar summation of your life? “He lived in joy in Christ! Would it be accurate? Wouldn’t you like it to be said of you that, between your “new birth” date and your death date, you spent your life living in joy in Christ?
In the scripture passage we are now studying, Paul spoke of living in joy in terms of how we should view our past . . . our present . . . our future.
Live in appreciation of your God-given ability to forget certain aspects of your past.
Live in actualization of your God-given opportunities to grow and develop spiritually in the present.
Live in anticipation of that glorious transformation promised in the future.
First, live in appreciation of your God-given ability to forget certain aspects of your past – Phil. 3:12-14 . . .
Medically speaking, forgetting might not be a bad thing. We joke about not remembering what we had for breakfast, yet we remember details of an event that happened a long time ago. That’s just the way it is. But,
Aside from diseases like Alzheimer’s, research shows that to forget the bad stuff in our past promotes better health. But what about our accomplishments - awards, trophies, recognitions – things we treasure and share with friends? Isn’t there the temptation to look upon our achievements and “rest on our laurels”?
In the earlier part of this chapter Paul addressed this notion of “resting on one’s laurels”. He personally had done so much about which he could be proud; then Jesus came into his life and transformed his being, his thinking, his doing.
Once Jesus “grabbed hold of” Paul (like Sister Canup grabbed hold of me and shook the devil out of me) the Risen Christ had such an impact on his life that, by the time he was mature, the old apostle considered all his awards and honors to be refuse compared to all that Christ had done for him . . . in him . . . through him.
In the waning days of “growing old gracefully”, Paul’s aim was the same as ours ought to be - to press on toward the goal of Christlikeness (spiritual maturity) trusting God to reward His children in whatever way(s) He sees fit.
Not to be lost here is the concern Paul had expressed multiple times, and that is, false teachings that must be left behind when one “grabs hold of” Christ and makes Him Lord of life.
Just as an athlete disciplines himself . . . strives to reach his goal, we must let go of any “weight” that might hinder our progress . . . put forth our very best effort to finish the race, the culmination of which is the prize of a promised place prepared for us by God’s Son.
Until then, live in consistent actualization of our God-given opportunities to grow in faith and in knowledge of Christ – Philippians 3:15-19 . . .
Folks, Jesus invited us to be His disciples, “to enroll in His school”; and for the most part, my friends, you have done so and have graduated to a level of maturity that means you have indeed attained the attitude Christ had.
You are now full grown Christians; you see people the way our Lord saw them . . . you want what’s best for people. However, don’t overlook the fact that:
You must want what’s best for yourself too! The way Paul puts it is in terms of “earthly versus spiritual”. You well know that the world today is full of people who have abandoned Christian morality based on the Bible. In fact, our culture may be headed toward becoming like the culture described in the Book of Judges.
We hear of folks in our day who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness”. For example, corruption, with little or no regard for morals, has become a disturbing trend in America, with almost daily revelations of it. Some people glory in things for which they should be ashamed! “Their glory is their shame.”
Those who rebel against God’s laws “cannot stand” (literally hate) Christians who stand on the authority of the Word of God. It’s a clash of worldviews wherein those who reject God and His Word increasingly look on Christians as the enemy.
As a matter of fact, those who do “what is right in their own eyes” really don’t want freedom of religion; instead, they increasingly demand that Christians accept what they do as okay. “They” do not want us to be “free” to disagree!
Folks, let us stand firm in our resolve to win the war that is waging for right against wrong; go on becoming more and more spiritual, less and less worldly.
After all, salvation is much more than insurance against eternal destruction; salvation is a deep, abiding, constantly developing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Christians are to actually live out what we have learned in the school of Jesus Christ. We are to strive to perfect His way as our way so that others might see Christ in us and desire to be like us!
To live in ways that dishonor Christ is to be “enemies of Christ”. To live in ways that honor Christ is to be heirs and joint heirs with Christ. As such, we live in anticipation of our glorious transformation in the future – Philippians 3:20-21 . . .
Take this thought with you wherever you go, whatever you do: Our spiritual growth is not complete until our glorious transformation in Heaven.
Our past, before we came to know Christ, ought to be forgotten; our sins have been atoned for on the Cross of Christ. Our sins have been forgiven and forgotten.
Our present challenge is to stay the course and finish the race as best we can, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Our future beckons us to come Home to be with the Lord, and so shall we ever be with the Lord, not as we are now but as we shall be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye when we shall be transformed into His likeness in a glorious way!
What all of this says to us is simply this: “We are dwellers on this earth but citizens of heaven!” Live like it. Imitate Christ. Imitate Paul. Be fellow imitators of each other as we all seek to imitate Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen.
