Philippians 3:17-4:1

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you 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 set 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.
 

            As some of you know, Cindy and I have a little dog named Zoey.  Like most dogs, she loves to go on walks and seems to be fascinated by all kinds of things that she encounters along the way.  Most often a gentle tug on the leash will get her back on track, but from time to time she digs in her paws and refuses to move until she is finished checking out whatever it is that has caught her attention.  This can be a little annoying, but I will admit that I also have to admire her determination.  If she really wants something, she’s going to use all of the strength in her 15-pound body to try to get it.
            People can be like this too.  When there is something that we really want, we also will do what we can to get it.  We focus our attention on that goal and figure out a plan to make it happen.  Quite often we succeed and are able to enjoy what it is that we were trying to obtain.  But there are other times when we get side-tracked or just aren’t willing to make the effort that is necessary to achieve our goal.  We miss out on what we are trying to accomplish and the joy we would have gotten from it.
            In our text for today, Paul shares a message with us that makes us think about something very important that we are working toward.  He tells us honestly that there are obstacles that stand in the way of reaching the goal, and he warns about distractions that might prevent us from reaching our goal.  In this case, if we fail, it isn’t just some temporary joy or pleasure that we will lose.  It is our eternal life.
            Turn with me to the words of Paul addressed to the Philippians in which we are encouraged to…
 

“Stand Firm in the Lord”
 
I.  Look out
II.  Look up

 
            We might call the Apostle Paul one of God’s most difficult, but also most amazing, projects.  Stubbornly refusing to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, Paul had fought against those who thought that he was.  But God did not give up, and Paul finally was won over by the power and love of God.  Recalling his past, Paul often encouraged others not to make the same mistakes that he had made, but to follow the example of faith that he was now able to show by God’s grace.  He wrote in our text, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.”
            Paul gave this encouragement because he was aware of the many harmful influences that constantly surround people.  He added, “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things.”  In his commentary on this verse, Prof. Martin Franzmann noted that people become “enemies of the cross of Christ,” “when [t]he[y] ignores God’s fearful and costly judgment on human sin in the death of his Son.  The cross makes impossible any compromise with sin.”
            I think that most often when we hear the word “enemy,” we think of people who are intentionally trying to hurt us.  That certainly would describe an “enemy,” but in this context the term is used in a much wider sense.  It is applied to all who believe differently than what Jesus has taught.  This might be someone who is extremely opposed to God and his Word and takes action to prevent it.  But it may also refer to those who are less extreme in their outward “animosity” toward God, but are just as dangerous to the spiritual health of God’s people.  Paul warns us about all of them and the danger they present to us.
            “Enemies of the cross” would include those who choose to follow and worship other gods, happy to adopt a “you go your way and I’ll go mine” attitude that may not seem overly threatening to our faith.  But Jesus warned in Matthew 12:30, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”  Others take a bit more visible stand against Christianity, showing their lack of love for God or concern for his commands and warnings.  Their opposition to Christianity is a little more blatant, and we recognize them a bit more easily as a threat to our faith.  Instead of living in love for God, they have their own goals and objectives.  Paul warns us to look out for those who do not share our faith and love for God, regardless of what level of opposition they may show.  Anyone who does not follow God is on a path to destruction, distracted from the path to eternal life because “Their mind is on earthly things.”
            “Earthly things.”  Earthly things like the desire for knowledge that tripped up Adam and Eve.  Earthly things like the desire for power and authority that led Absolom to rebel against his own father, King David.  Earthly things like money that caused Judas to betray his Lord.         God is the giver of all these things, intending them to be blessings for us to enjoy and to use in his service.  He provides them as he sees fit, using his divine love and knowledge to give us what we need and what is beneficial for our eternal futures.  But when they become our master instead of our servant, “earthly things” can often be the weapons that Satan turns against us and uses to harm us.  Again, Jesus warned, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Mt. 6:24)
            Paul understood the attraction for “earthly things” because he had pursued them.  He was rescued from his empty pursuits when God called him to a new life, a better life, a life with a much more desirable outcome, a life of faith.  He treasured his new life and pleads with us to “Join with others in following [his] example,” and he could say that because he confessed, “I follow the example of Christ.” (I Cor. 11:1) It is necessary for us to always “look out” for things that may lead us away from our devotion to the Lord, and we will be able to do that if we remember to…
 

II.  Look up

 
            Paul reminds us, “But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.” Paul drew a starkly contrasting picture between those who believe and those who don’t.  The unbeliever’s “destiny is destruction,” but the believer has “citizenship in heaven.”
            The choice between eternity in heaven or eternity in hell seems obvious.  I don’t think there are many people who have lived who have made eternal destruction their goal.  People want success.  They want victory.  They want rewards.  They want joy and happiness and satisfaction and fulfillment.  Those who believe in a life after death want that life to be better than the one that they have now.  Much effort is made to follow the paths that they believe will lead them to these things.
            But there is only one path that will lead people to “citizenship in heaven.”  Paul knew that he had been called to that path and pleads with us to follow his example, his example of love for the Lord and trust in his promises which will lead to “citizenship in heaven.”  All other paths lead “to destruction,” possibly providing those misled to follow them with a little satisfaction for “their stomach” along the way.  The devil tries to get people to focus on the present, to pursue the immediate gratification of the sinful nature, and to take pleasure in meeting those desires because he knows that is all that he can offer them.
            Paul had come to realize that the deceit of the devil will not result in joy and happiness.  The joys are fleeting.  The pleasure is not complete.  But if we “look up,” we will see that we have a Savior in heaven who has been given the power to “bring everything under his control,” who will “transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”  And because Jesus is the only one who can do that and who will do that for every believer, Paul says, “Therefore, 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.”
            Our little dog often shows a stubbornness to get what she wants.  When it comes to eternal life through faith, we should do the same.  Avoid the temptations of the devil to stray from the path of faith.  Look up to the Lord in heaven for strength and forgiveness and “Stand firm in the Lord.” 
Amen.