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A Christian Perspective Philippians 1:21-30 |
August 13, 2006 Pastor Tom Marcum |
The current issue of Newsweek magazine has on its cover the picture of a man who each year continues to be named, as he has for decades, one of the most admired men in America—Billy Graham. For more than 50 years Billy Graham has been one of the most powerful and influential Christian voices in the world. And now, at the age of 87 the article concludes that this great and influential man has entered the twilight of his life “frail in body but rich in spirit.”
It’s a great article that I would commend to each of you. It provides an up close and personal glimpse into the life of one of the towering Christian figures of our time.
--A gentle spirit greatly troubled recently when he woke up in the middle of the night, began reciting from memory the 23rd Psalm and couldn’t remember part of it.
--A humble man whose one regret is that he didn’t spend more time studying the Bible.
--An adoring husband who treasures every new day with his loving wife Ruth who is described as, “funny, devout and feisty.” Ruth’s feisty nature was evident a while ago when an interviewer asked her whether, as a Christian woman, she had ever considered divorce. Mrs. Graham replied, “Divorce? No. Murder? Yes.”
If I were to choose a word to capture the heart of the article, I think it would be “perspective.” The overriding theme that runs through the article is that 87 years have provided Graham a perspective on life that he didn’t have as a younger man. As the author of the article says, “You can see more from a mountain, and from the perspective of years.” About his new perspective Graham said, “The older I get, the more important the eternal becomes to me personally.”
Folks, there’s a powerful and practical lesson there from which every Christian can benefit, namely, that there is great wisdom in living today with an eternal perspective. God’s plans and purposes for us are not limited to that which we experience in this present lifetime. His plans for us began long before we were even born and his purposes for us extend throughout eternity. And all of those plans and purposes are ultimately accomplished in and through Christ. Consequently, one of great challenges that every Christian faces is the challenge of facing each new day with a Christ-Centered, Eternal Perspective.
It basically comes down to this—rather than allowing our perspective on life to be determined by our circumstances, we choose to have our perspective on life determined by Christ and God’s eternal purposes.
--And so, for instance, for us, the question is not so much, “Am I enjoying this experience?” but rather, “How can I express the love and character of Christ through this experience?”
--And, for us, the question is not so much, “How can I avoid going through a difficult experience like this, again?” but rather, “How is God working out His plans and purposes through this difficult experience?”
Ultimately what it means is this--When our perspective on life is determined by our circumstances we set ourselves up for disappointment and frustration because sooner or later life gets hard for all of us.
But, when our perspective on life is determined not by circumstances but by Christ and God’s eternal purposes we set ourselves up for a lifetime of blessing and joy because God continues the work that He is doing in and through us not in some of our circumstances, but in all of our circumstances.
One of the great lessons we find in the scriptures speaking to the issue of maintaining “A Christian Perspective” through all of life’s circumstances is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians where, beginning in 1:21 he writes, “For to me, to live is Christ…”
Folks, you would be hard-pressed to find a better or more succinct definition of a genuinely Christian Perspective on life. Paul says, “For me, it all comes down to this: life is Christ. I live for Him. I want to know Him better and better. I want to experience Him more and more fully. I want to grow more and more in His image. I want to reflect more and more of His character. I want to honor Him in the things I do, the things I say and the decisions that I make. Everything that I do ultimately has meaning and purpose to the extent that it in some way expresses my life with Christ. Because for me living is Christ.”
And in the verses that follow, Paul shows how this Christ-Centered Perspective on Life empowers him to experience genuine joy not just in some, but in all of life’s circumstances—the good times, the bad times and, yes, even in the worst of times.
In Philippians 1:21-22 he writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!”
Key words—“fruitful labor.” Paul is in the midst of terribly difficult experience. He’s totally focused on Christ and he’s totally committed to serving God in whatever way that God’s plans lead him. But this spirit of complete obedience has been personally costly. He has suffered greatly in his service to the Lord. In fact, he’s writing this letter from a prison cell…a circumstance that would likely have most of us complaining bitterly.
But Paul is so totally focused on Christ that, rather complaining about his circumstances or assigning this experience to the “bad times” of life, he’s actually counting his prison experience among life’s good times because it’s providing him the opportunity for “fruitful labor.” And, for Paul, that’s the very essence of the Good Times of life.
Paul has already said, “For me, life is not about circumstances. Life is all about Christ.” Consequently, whether he was on the beach in Cabo or in a prison cell in Rome, life was good so long as he could continue to serve God, so long as he could continue to be engaged in fruitful labor.
Now, let’s read further in the text and listen as Paul expands on this idea of the way that even the most difficult circumstances of life can be transformed as they provide us an opportunity to faithfully serve God. In verses 23-30 he writes,
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
So, again, here is Paul locked away in prison with all the time in the world to contemplate the cruel and unjust hand that life has dealt him. And I think that most all of us would agree that if anyone was justified to throw himself a pity party it was Paul. Yet, instead of focusing on the difficulties and the unfairness of his life…instead of complaining about his losses and hardships…instead of giving in to discouragement and despair because life is so hard…he decides that this is the perfect opportunity to write a letter of encouragement to his Christian friends on the outside.
Folks, what in the world would prompt him to such an unlikely decision? Paul wasn’t looking at his life through the perspective of his circumstances…he was looking at his circumstance from the perspective of Christ and God’s eternal purposes and from that vantage point he could clearly see the incredible impact that a letter of encouragement from him at this time in his life could have on other Christians struggling with discouragement.
So, he grabs a pen and he begins to write: “You know, if it was up to me I think I’d rather just go on home to be with the Lord. This prison cell is not exactly the reward I was anticipating for faithfully serving God. But, even here I just can’t take my eyes off of Christ. In fact, I’ve got more time than ever to dwell on him. Maybe God can use this time of personal hardship for some Kingdom good.
I certainly have a lot more time for prayer and that’s always good. What’s more, I’ve got more time than ever to write my brothers and sisters in the Lord. And that brings me to you and the purpose for this letter. I just want you to know that even when life gets hard, God can still use you for great things if you’ll remain faithful in the things He’s given you to do.”
Fruitful labor in good times, bad times and all the in between times. That’s Paul’s idea of the good life. And it grew out of his Christ-Centered Perspective on life.
Over the course of 50+ years in the ministry spotlight Billy Graham offered counsel to 5 different American presidents, met with many of the most powerful leaders in the world, preached live to millions and via television to billions and then he grew old. Suddenly old in 1999 at the age of 80. In rapid succession he endured brain operations, a broken hip and a broken pelvis. He suffers from prostate cancer and has shunts in his brain to fight hydrocephalus and is so frail that he rarely leaves his mountaintop home in North Carolina.
So, are the good times of life over? Hardly. Graham says, “I can’t say that I like the fact that I can’t do everything I once did, but more than ever, as I read my Bible and pray and spend time with my wife, I see each day as a gift from God.” And he also believes that God has called him to one last mission: to soldier on by faith, praying and pondering and sharing the love of God “for all people.”
He can’t travel the world anymore. He can’t preach like he used to. But he can pray. He can ponder the wonders of God’s love. He can soldier on by faith. In other words, he can still do “fruitful labor.” And for one with a Christ-Centered Perspective on Life, that means that life is very, very good.
Have you found that to be true in your own life? Have you experienced that joy that comes, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, when we stay faithfully engaged in the work that God has given us to do? When your focus is on Christ, that’s the very essence of life at its best.
So, God gives us joy in the good times and the bad when we hold on to a Christ Centered Perspective on life. But there’s one more significant life experience to consider. What about death? How is our attitude about death impacted when viewed from a Christ Centered Perspective on life.
Listen, again, to Paul. In verses 21 and 23 he writes, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…”
Paul says, “Fear death? You gotta be kidding. For those of us who have a relationship with Christ in this life, death simply draws us closer to Him than ever. I love my life and thank God for every new day, but I can’t wait to see Him face to face.”
At the end of the Newsweek article Billy Graham shared his thoughts on death. He said, “I think about heaven a great deal, I think about the failures in my life in the past, but know that they have been covered by the blood of Christ, and that gives me a great sense of confidence. I have a certainty about eternity that is a wonderful thing, and I thank God for giving me that certainty. I do not fear death. I may fear a little bit about the process, but not death itself, because…the moment that my spirit leaves this body, I will be in the presence of the Lord.”
Folks, how could you possibly fear death if you had that confidence?
Do you have that same certainty?
Are you confident that God has forgiven your sins?
Are you confident that you will spend eternity in heaven…not because you’re so good, but because of what Jesus did for you on the cross?
My how life changes when we live with a Christ-Centered perspective.
Fruitful labor in life. Face to face with Jesus in death. And all God’s people said, “Amen!”
© Copyright 2006 Pastor Tom Marcum