What A Day That Will Be

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE

Phil 3:17-21

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say 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 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.

NIV

There is something rather disturbing in these words of Paul as he was inspired by the Spirit to write. First, he is admonishing those in the church in Philippi to live in accordance with the example he gave them while he was with them. Secondly, he is not happy with how some of them have left that example and developed a form of Christianity of their own, which he defines as being an enemy of the cross. What was going on in the church that Paul would call a believer an enemy of the cross? He uses the phrase, their god is their stomach. He says their glory is their shame and that their mind is on earthly things. What does that look like? How can a believer become like that? Could there be church members or attendees that have never been born again? It is possible there are people in the church that are indulging in known sin? Could there be people who say they are believers but do not manifest any of the attitudes or behaviors of those who truly love Christ? Could some in the church have a deeper interest in the affairs of the world, then of their Redeemer, and would not be induced to give up their worldly concerns, when God demands it? This may well be what Paul is saying about their god being their stomach, rather then they like food too much. It certainly appears this is what he means by their minds being on earthly things. Could there really be that much hypocrisy in the church? It really goes back to the fact we cannot serve two masters, God and money. Someone has said about believers who are totally into God, really trusting in God, that they are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good. But the truth is there those in the church who are so earthly minded, they are no heavenly good. When Paul says our citizenship is in heaven we can see the truth in the concept of citizenship. In the physical realm, in this life, we are indeed citizens of the United States of America. As such we abide by the laws of this land. We do not abide by the laws of France, or Germany, or any other country, nor do those who are foreigners to us enjoy the benefits of being a citizen of our country. Although it is true some people may have dual citizenship in this world, we cannot have dual citizenship if we are citizens of heaven. We must give up our rights as sinners, and take on the role and responsibility and enjoy the rights as saints. Our citizenship is in heaven and we live in anticipation of our coming Lord, of his return, when he will call us heavenward. Our mind is set on this course, this path. There will be a day when we can shed these corruptible lowly bodies and our transformation will be complete and we will then be in the same glorified state as Jesus. What a day that will be, when my Jesus, I will see. When I look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace. What a day, glorious day that will be!