Philippians 3:12-21
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
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 Saviour 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.
Philippians 3:12-21 CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN
Springford Baptist Church: November 7, 2021.
On this Sunday closest to Remembrance Day, we intentionally pause and honour those who have served in war times and we solemnly consider the high cost of the peace and freedom we now enjoy as a result. We must never take for granted what has come to us because of what others were willing to do as they sacrificed for those back home. Men and women who serve in our military today, continue to stand on guard for us, for our country of Canada.
When we reflect on the past and the selfish sinfulness that has led to war, we recognize that our citizenship is in heaven. As much as we strive to make our world the place that God intends it to be, ultimately our citizenship is in heaven. Paul in his letter to the Philippians writes, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20)
Knowing that our citizenship is in heaven and that ultimately that is where we belong, still we are called to give ourselves to being responsible and committed citizens where we now reside.
Think about it this way. If you have a trip planned and all you do is focus on where you are going and how wonderful it will be to get there, but do not attend to life here and now, that will not go well. Likewise, although our ultimate destiny is citizenship in heaven and we eagerly await being with our Saviour Jesus, God cares deeply about how we are living while we wait to claim our citizenship in heaven.
Paul describes, “12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (vs. 12)
Yes, the way we live our lives while waiting for heaven matters.
We pray those words in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
How then are you and I to be active agents for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven while waiting to claim our citizenship in heaven?
Paul writes, “13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 13)
For Paul, he is fiercely committed to the goal of winning the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Those who serve in war times are also fiercely committed to the goal of achieving peace. They keep that goal in view when they are desperately missing loved ones back home. They keep that goal in view when they cannot sleep at night and feel the cold grip of fear seizing them.
There is urging here in this Scripture for all those who are mature in their faith to take this view on things of, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”
The inspiration of our citizenship in heaven, compels us to live for Jesus now!
We get a sense of how much Paul has invested in the cause of Christ when we read verses 18 and 19 of Philippians 3, “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.”
Paul is moved to tears by the motivation of those many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction which is the opposite of salvation. Those who only focus on their citizenship here are intent on all that they can gain here. Their pursuit is selfish and sadly they will stop at nothing, including armed conflict, to secure what they want for themselves.
This really does express itself as being enemies or in opposition to the cross of Christ. The love and humility that took Jesus, God’s Son to the cross is raised in clear distinction from the selfish ambition that drives people to do everything to look after and to promote their own interests. This selfish and self-centered disregard for others is what does lead to war.
The minds of those who engage in war are on earthly things and earthly gain rather than on the goal of citizenship in heaven.
When we remember that our citizenship is in heaven, it will keep our focus on Jesus. When we remember that our citizenship is in heaven, we will be moved to recognize what Jesus was willing to do to overcome the power of sin forever.
Rather than being enemies of the cross of Christ, we will want to be allies with Him always.
We are confirmed citizens of heaven with temporary residence in this world torn by sin that results in the horror of war.
The anticipation of our citizenship in heaven brings us near to God in eagerly awaiting our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, “who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (vs. 21)
Whenever we come to remember Jesus at the Lord’s Table, we are remembering what Jesus has done at the cross to guarantee our citizenship in heaven. We look to Him to guide us in the living of our lives here toward Jesus bringing everything under His control and peaceful reign.