Just 5 seconds

Philippians 3:17 – 4:1

¹⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. ¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. ²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

^4:1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

This passage is all about conduct – how I live my life day to day. The text begins with arguably one of the most challenging statements by the Apostle Paul, “Pattern your life after mine” (v17).

The preceding verses showed the Philippian church (and us) what this pattern looks like. Qualities like alertness v1, trust v3, considering everything else garbage compared to pursuing Jesus v8, righteousness by faith alone v9, knowing Jesus above all else v10, having his power evident in my life v10, suffering with him and for him v10, experiencing resurrected, eternal life with him V11, forgetting my past failures and focus on future glory v13, and perseverance, perseverance, perseverance v12, 14, 16.

This is Paul’s pattern of thought and life that we are encouraged to follow and, by extension, model for others as they follow us.

But what if we don’t follow Paul’s example? What if my conduct, my normal, everyday life, looks nothing like Paul’s life? I would not only be “headed for destruction”, but I would be leading others in the same direction. I may say I’m a “Christian”, but am I really? Does my faith have any proof or evidence displayed in my everyday conduct? If I am not living as a Christian, make no mistake, I am heading for destruction (see v19), and I will be held responsible for those who follow me along that doomed path (see Matthew 18:6-7). No wonder Paul wrote these words with tears in his eyes.

JD Greear said in a podcast recently, “Picture yourself just five seconds after you die. Five seconds. What’s important to you in that moment? Figure that out NOW and live that way now. Faith is living in a way TODAY that you believe one day you’ll be glad you did.”

I have been given righteousness as a free gift – a gift that cost me nothing and Jesus everything. How could I ever even dream of doing evil?

Jesus, I have been given so much by your mercy, grace, and sacrifice on the cross. And I have so much in eternity to look forward to. Help me “stay true to the Lord” and, starting today, follow Paul’s pattern of life and be an example to those around me. Amen

Written by B van Noppen