Calvary Bible Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan

Since I was very young, I have always had an interest in all the news about space exploration. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where they build and control the space probes, is located in my home town. The parents of some of my school friends worked there, so they would bring pictures of the planets and the stars to our school.  They even had occasional Open Houses at the lab.

One of the things that really amazes me about rockets and spacecraft is how precise scientists have to be in calculating their course. With traveling such long distances, the slightest mistake in direction or timing can send a spacecraft completely off course.

That happens not just on take-off, but on landing too. A few months ago I heard a news report about a Russian spacecraft carrying three people, two women and one man, back to earth from the International Space Station. This wasn’t a space plane like the Space Shuttle.  It was just a capsule, falling from the sky. Somehow it got off course and ended up over 250 miles away from its targeted landing spot in Central Asia.

When asked about the incident, the chief of the Russian space agency referred to a naval superstition that having women aboard a ship was bad luck. That will come in handy for some of you men the next time you get lost on a trip. Of course, the real issue with the Russian spacecraft and in our driving is that we simply get going in the wrong direction.  The same thing can happen in life.

Our lives are like a long journey and subtle changes of direction have a radical impact on our ultimate destination. What happens on a road trip when you have clear directions and you know you’re going in the right direction? You’re at ease. You can enjoy the journey. But what happens when you’re uncertain about your direction? We don’t like to admit it.  We keep insisting that this next corner looks familiar.  We try to act like everything’s going fine, when the truth is that we’re driving away from where we need to go.

Is your life heading in the right direction? Throughout this summer we’ve been looking at the theme of Christian joy in the New Testament book of Philippians. Our Scripture passage today shows us that true joy comes from having a life that’s heading in the right direction.

Let’s read the passage together: Philippians 3:17-21.

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

In a sense there are only two directions in life. Each of us is on one or the other. In Philippians 3, Paul has laid out a five point comparison of the two to guide us into the peace and joy of going in the right direction.

A Different Focus

Each direction has a different focus. Some people set their minds on earthly things (v. 19), but others eagerly wait for a Savior (v. 20).

Day to day concerns of life have a way of taking over our minds.  We’re not talking about anything that is necessarily immoral, just normal life: work, finances, food, clothing, family, sports, hobbies, entertainment… These things are all part of normal life, but they are sort of like Japanese Knotweed.

In and of itself, Japanese Knotweed seems like a nice plant that you might add to your garden – large green leaves with small white flowers. It even grows well in those moist shady spots. But you will be sorry if you get one of these plants, because it will take over. Japanese Knotweed is actually banned in many states across the country, because it is so invasive. It suffocates other plants.

Are the concerns of daily life suffocating your spiritual life? Jesus warned us about this. He envisioned a person who hears the truth of God’s Word but, “the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matt 13:22). Does that happen to you? Are you so consumed with everyday life, that there’s no opportunity for your spiritual life to develop and grow? If that’s the case, then you have to acknowledge that whether you intend to or not, you are setting a direction for your life.

But it is possible to have a different focus. Instead of being swallowed up by every day life, our alternative is to seek God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:33).

The Bible tells us that one day Jesus Christ will return to earth. When he returns, he will establish his kingdom on earth. He will restore life to the way that it should be. So rather than focusing on earthly things, we can set our focus upon the return of Jesus Christ. We can wait eagerly for him.

Which focus do you have?  Which direction are you heading?

A Different Boast

Each direction has a different focus, but each direction also has a different boast. You gain a lot of insight into a person when you take note of what that person boasts about or takes pride in. What do you take pride in? Paul tells us in verse 19, that some people glory or boast in their shame.

What is he talking about?  If people are ashamed of something, they don’t boast about it, do they? Sometimes something is shameful, but a person does not recognize it as such.

This scenario happened to a group of Christians in a city called Laodicea. In the book of Revelation, Jesus dictated a letter to them. He said to them, “You say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Rev 3:17). The Laodiceans boasted in their spiritual lives, but in reality their conduct was shameful.

The Bible has a lot to say about boasting, and one of the best statements is found in Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.”

In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

If our focus is on earthly things, then our boasting will be in earthly possessions and accomplishments. But if our focus is on the return of Christ, our boast will be in him and in his power to save.

A Different Authority

Paul goes a step further. Whatever people focus on and boast in demonstrates the authority that directs their lives.

Paul tells us in verse 19 that for some people their belly or stomach becomes their god. I don’t think he’s talking about just physical hunger. He seems to be speaking of physical desire and urges in general. The New American Standard Bible uses the word, “appetite.”

This reminds me of the old story called The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. We’ve all probably heard the title and know the concept of a man who mysteriously turns into a crazed madman. But have you ever read the original story by Robert Louis Stevenson?  Do you know why this change happened to this man?

Dr. Henry Jekyll was a respected medical doctor, but throughout his life he had maintained a double life: upstanding citizen in the public view, but given over to lust and base desires in private. Dr. Jekyll wanted the “freedom” to continue to pursue his desires, so he concocted a potion that would alter his appearance. Whenever he wanted, he could change himself into Mr. Hyde and completely give in to whatever he desired. When the potion wore off, he could return to his respected normal life as Dr. Jekyll.

The scheme worked for a while, but one day Jekyll awoke to find that he had changed into Mr. Hyde without even taking his potion. He began to lose control. He became a slave to his own desires. He couldn’t escape. His appetite had become his god.

The story of Dr. Jekyll captures the reality of sin that Paul describes in Titus 3:3: “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”

The only answer Dr. Jekyll saw to his situation was to commit suicide. But the Bible offers hope. Paul continues in Titus 3:4-5: “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”

Every one of us worships something, either the triune God of the Bible or our own selfish desires. Which authority is directing your life?

A Different Destination

One focus or the other. One boast or the other. One authority or the other.  And, one destination or the other. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:19 that some people’s lives will end in destruction, but others he says in verse 21 will be transformed and continue to live.

This Greek word translated destruction is often connected with the wrath of God. In 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul speaks of, “eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” Jesus described this destruction as conscious suffering for eternity that will cause people to weep and gnash their teeth.

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Sadly, according to Jesus many people are heading toward this destination.

Rather than destruction, the other destination is described as transformation. Look at Philippians 3:21. Paul says that when Jesus returns, he “will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

Right now we live in a humble state. Our bodies are subject to sickness and death. Our hearts are subject to sinful urges and desires. Our minds are limited in their ability to comprehend God and His truth.

But in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Paul says “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

John puts it this way in 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

No more sickness. No more aging as we know it. No more death. No more pain. No more sin. No more shame or guilt. No more separation from God, but a nearness to Him unlike anything we can even imagine. We will share His glory.

What will that be like?  I suspect the difference will be something like the difference between the drab creeping caterpillar and the colorful floating butterfly. Paul described it as the difference between a hard little seed and the live growing plant.

Which destination are you heading toward, friend? Do you know? Do you know for sure? This is too important for guess so or hope so.

A Different Identity

Do you see the progression here?  What we focus on determines what we boast in. What we boast in says something about what we worship as our authority, our god. What we worship determines our ultimate destination. And all of this points to our identity. Some of us are enemies of the cross, but others are citizens of heaven.

“Enemy” is such a strong word. Isn’t there a middle ground? No. The Bible tells us that God has revealed Himself in creation. Every time you look at this incredible world, you cannot deny his existence or his glory. The Bible tells us that God has written his moral standards upon our hearts. Even if you’ve never read the Bible, you know God’s standards. And you know that you’ve violated them. We know these things, yet we’ve failed to follow that knowledge. That response is an attack on God.  When we fail to respond we are opposing Him.

But many of us also know something of Jesus’ death and resurrection. God didn’t send his Son to die as one possible option of many ways to God. Christ’s death is the only way for a person to be reconciled to God. If there was any other way, don’t you think God would have taken it? So whenever someone rejects or even ignores the Christian message of salvation through Christ, that person is living in opposition to God. That person has become as Paul says here in verse 18 an enemy of the cross of Christ.

Some people say that it is arrogant to say such words. But look at verse 18 again. As Paul says this, he says “and now tell you even weeping.” There’s no arrogance here. No condescension. This breaks Paul’s heart, and it should do the same to us.

Some people—many are enemies of the cross. They are destined for destruction. They are enslaved to their appetites. They put a good face on it and try to look confident and proud, but they only glory in their shame. All they can do is just fill their mind with earthly things.

But other people have a different identity. They are citizens of heaven. They live in this world, but they are aliens, strangers, pilgrims passing through, because heaven is their true home. They have been born again as children of God and they are waiting for the day that Jesus Christ will return to transform them. They believe in Him. They love and serve Him. They boast in Him.

Which one are you? A citizen of heaven or an enemy of the cross?

Conclusion

Paul has laid out for us two very different directions in life. Every one of us is moving one way or the other.

The good news is that God wants everyone of us to have this hope of transformation and eternal life. He doesn’t want anyone to face destruction. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” If you are not heading in the right direction, God offers you the chance to turn around.

Once we’ve made that turn, we find true joy in knowing that we are heading in the right direction.  The joy is in the waiting.

Do you remember being a child waiting for Christmas morning? In our home my mom would wrap presents and begin setting them out in early December. I couldn’t wait to find out what was inside. On Christmas Eve, I could never go to sleep. I remember staying up to four or five in the morning some years. Back then I thought the waiting was terrible. In fact, one year I even slit the tape and unwrapped the package to get a peak of what was inside. Of course, on Christmas day the experience of playing with the gift never measured up to what I had anticipated.

There is a certain joy anytime we wait, anticipating something good. But when we think of the incredible transformation of our bodies that will take place when Christ returns, there will not be any disappointment. I am confident that it will be far better than we could ever even hope for. Enjoy waiting. Cultivate in your heart a great anticipation of what lies ahead for us.