Greetings friends. As I write this blog today there are three headlines that caught my eye.
The first is that today there is another school shooting in Santa Fe Texas. As of this writing the public has been told that there are eight people who have been killed and the shooter is in custody.
Also at this writing a Florida man opened fire in a Trump hotel and was shot in the legs by police officers.
Also at this writing there are two counter-narratives in the political news. The one states that one or more FBI agents were planted in the Trump campaign in 2016 as a counter-intelligence matter because some in the campaign were acting mischievously with a foreign government and they needed to gather information on this; the other narrative is that the former administration was spying on a political rival thereby criminally using government agencies to spy on political enemies.
What do all these events have in common? Just hear me out.
I was reading the book of Philippians the other day and something I read jumped off the page. I have read that small book countless times; yet these words hit me directly in my head and heart - and they have remained there for over a week. The reading comes from Philippians 3:18-19
"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."
How does this Scripture relate to the three events described above? Because in all three instances people are focused on the things of this world. Why kill people in a school? Why shoot guns in a hotel? Why either spy on opponents or illegally conspire with foreign agents? The answer is actually quite simple - your mind is on earthly things. You may kill because you have lost hope. Why have you lost hope? Because your hopes lie here. You spy illegally because your hope lies here. You collude because your hopes lie here. Bottom line is this - sin, grievous sin, occurs because people's hopes and dreams lie in a dying world. And that is sad; very sad.
Only a person who truly has not grasped eternity would be willing to sell their soul to gain the world. Only a person who truly has not grasped eternity would be willing to kill their neighbor without thought to the next world.
The longer I live in this world the more I see how crooked and perverse this place truly is. Yet, this fact does not depress me. It saddens me. It moves me to action. But it does not depress me. It does not depress me because I know one immutable truth - this place is not my home. This place does not hold my hope. This place does not hold my future. This place is a dead world that will eventually be completely destroyed. The Apostle Paul says it in Philippians 3:20-21
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
My home, and the home of every believer in Jesus, is heavenly glory. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth - that is our home of righteousness. So beloved, you and I do not need to get caught up in the hate, fear, cruelty, or dissension of this world. This world is dying. We knew that yesterday. We know it today. It will be further into its death spiral tomorrow. Hear me if you have never heard me before - if you believe in Jesus Christ this world is not your home. We are only passing through.
And those who do not believe? What, in tears, does the Apostle say?
Their end is destruction. Their god is their belly. They glory in their shame.
Let us take the third sentence first. They honor what is shameful. Is Jesus not a punchline for this atheistic world? Is blasphemy not regular? Is that which is dishonorable uplifted by this culture and that which is good mocked and scorned? The answer is yes.
What does the Apostle mean when he says, "their god is their belly?" Are they worshiping their stomachs? No. Whether people in this world like to admit it or not, everyone has a god. More often than not in America our god is the self. We worship the self. And the Apostle admits that at his time this was often the case as well. He says, "their god is their belly." What he means is that their varied appetites are what they live their lives to please. Jesus taught the Kingdom of God; this world teaches the Kingdom of desire. Back in the 60's the world taught, "if it feels good, do it." Today the world teaches, "if it feels good, it is right. And if anyone tells you that the way you feel is not right, they are horrible bigots and judgmental jerks." Our god has become our feelings; and my goodness if our feelings do not constantly change. When we make our desires our god my goodness it is such a difficult idol to please. Our desires are constantly shifting, our feelings constantly changing, therefore our actions to please those desires shifting as well.
And finally the Apostle says, "their end is destruction." Whether we like it or not the Bible is very clear on those who do not believe in the Lord. The words of Jesus in John 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." It is Jesus Himself that says hell is, "eternal punishment." [Matthew 25:46]
So what should be our attitude as Christians as we face a world filled with pain, death, lies, and corruption? Well it ought not be that we cloister ourselves away. It ought not be fear. It ought not be to throw our lot in with the world. What should we do?
Beloved, tell of the love of Jesus to this dying world. He is the one true hope. Imagine if that person who shot eight dead knew there was a person who defeated death who truly loves Him? Imagine if that person in Florida knew that their hopes were not dashed by one man? Imagine if, whichever narrative is true, those involved in corruption at the highest level knew that there are no such things as secrets - that they themselves will know and the Lord will know whatever they do? And then imagine if they simply said to themselves, "I will focus on the two things eternal - God and others." This can only happen if they know the Lord Jesus Christ, and I quote the Apostle Paul again in Romans 10:14, "How can they know if no one preaches to them?"
So beloved, as you hear all the bad news coming through the news today, remember this - Jesus has already died; and Jesus has already risen again. He rose again and secured everlasting life to all who trust in Him. Therefore be free of the fear of this world and let us spend our time spreading the hope of Christ to a dying world. We ought never be satisfied, as much as we can help it, that there are people we know whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetites, and their glory is in shame. Instead let us share the true God - so their end will be heaven, their God will be the true God, and their glory will be in their salvation in Christ.
Amen.
Your friend,
Chris
The first is that today there is another school shooting in Santa Fe Texas. As of this writing the public has been told that there are eight people who have been killed and the shooter is in custody.
Also at this writing a Florida man opened fire in a Trump hotel and was shot in the legs by police officers.
Also at this writing there are two counter-narratives in the political news. The one states that one or more FBI agents were planted in the Trump campaign in 2016 as a counter-intelligence matter because some in the campaign were acting mischievously with a foreign government and they needed to gather information on this; the other narrative is that the former administration was spying on a political rival thereby criminally using government agencies to spy on political enemies.
What do all these events have in common? Just hear me out.
I was reading the book of Philippians the other day and something I read jumped off the page. I have read that small book countless times; yet these words hit me directly in my head and heart - and they have remained there for over a week. The reading comes from Philippians 3:18-19
"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."
How does this Scripture relate to the three events described above? Because in all three instances people are focused on the things of this world. Why kill people in a school? Why shoot guns in a hotel? Why either spy on opponents or illegally conspire with foreign agents? The answer is actually quite simple - your mind is on earthly things. You may kill because you have lost hope. Why have you lost hope? Because your hopes lie here. You spy illegally because your hope lies here. You collude because your hopes lie here. Bottom line is this - sin, grievous sin, occurs because people's hopes and dreams lie in a dying world. And that is sad; very sad.
Only a person who truly has not grasped eternity would be willing to sell their soul to gain the world. Only a person who truly has not grasped eternity would be willing to kill their neighbor without thought to the next world.
The longer I live in this world the more I see how crooked and perverse this place truly is. Yet, this fact does not depress me. It saddens me. It moves me to action. But it does not depress me. It does not depress me because I know one immutable truth - this place is not my home. This place does not hold my hope. This place does not hold my future. This place is a dead world that will eventually be completely destroyed. The Apostle Paul says it in Philippians 3:20-21
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
My home, and the home of every believer in Jesus, is heavenly glory. We look forward to a new heaven and a new earth - that is our home of righteousness. So beloved, you and I do not need to get caught up in the hate, fear, cruelty, or dissension of this world. This world is dying. We knew that yesterday. We know it today. It will be further into its death spiral tomorrow. Hear me if you have never heard me before - if you believe in Jesus Christ this world is not your home. We are only passing through.
And those who do not believe? What, in tears, does the Apostle say?
Their end is destruction. Their god is their belly. They glory in their shame.
Let us take the third sentence first. They honor what is shameful. Is Jesus not a punchline for this atheistic world? Is blasphemy not regular? Is that which is dishonorable uplifted by this culture and that which is good mocked and scorned? The answer is yes.
What does the Apostle mean when he says, "their god is their belly?" Are they worshiping their stomachs? No. Whether people in this world like to admit it or not, everyone has a god. More often than not in America our god is the self. We worship the self. And the Apostle admits that at his time this was often the case as well. He says, "their god is their belly." What he means is that their varied appetites are what they live their lives to please. Jesus taught the Kingdom of God; this world teaches the Kingdom of desire. Back in the 60's the world taught, "if it feels good, do it." Today the world teaches, "if it feels good, it is right. And if anyone tells you that the way you feel is not right, they are horrible bigots and judgmental jerks." Our god has become our feelings; and my goodness if our feelings do not constantly change. When we make our desires our god my goodness it is such a difficult idol to please. Our desires are constantly shifting, our feelings constantly changing, therefore our actions to please those desires shifting as well.
And finally the Apostle says, "their end is destruction." Whether we like it or not the Bible is very clear on those who do not believe in the Lord. The words of Jesus in John 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment." It is Jesus Himself that says hell is, "eternal punishment." [Matthew 25:46]
So what should be our attitude as Christians as we face a world filled with pain, death, lies, and corruption? Well it ought not be that we cloister ourselves away. It ought not be fear. It ought not be to throw our lot in with the world. What should we do?
Beloved, tell of the love of Jesus to this dying world. He is the one true hope. Imagine if that person who shot eight dead knew there was a person who defeated death who truly loves Him? Imagine if that person in Florida knew that their hopes were not dashed by one man? Imagine if, whichever narrative is true, those involved in corruption at the highest level knew that there are no such things as secrets - that they themselves will know and the Lord will know whatever they do? And then imagine if they simply said to themselves, "I will focus on the two things eternal - God and others." This can only happen if they know the Lord Jesus Christ, and I quote the Apostle Paul again in Romans 10:14, "How can they know if no one preaches to them?"
So beloved, as you hear all the bad news coming through the news today, remember this - Jesus has already died; and Jesus has already risen again. He rose again and secured everlasting life to all who trust in Him. Therefore be free of the fear of this world and let us spend our time spreading the hope of Christ to a dying world. We ought never be satisfied, as much as we can help it, that there are people we know whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetites, and their glory is in shame. Instead let us share the true God - so their end will be heaven, their God will be the true God, and their glory will be in their salvation in Christ.
Amen.
Your friend,
Chris
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