The text this morning is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the third and fourth chapters:
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 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. 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. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.Thus far the text.
My dear friends in Christ,
There is nothing, nothing that stands so much against the idea of being a Christian than the idea that our lives are ones of simple pleasures in which we can just lay back at take it easy. Now, it’s not to say that relaxing on occasion, taking the time to slow down, to rest from trials and tribulations, are sinful. These aren’t sinful things. But, what I am talking about is the idea that our lives are filled with great burdens, and burdens which we are called to bear, burdens which can come upon us at any time. Difficulties that make life one of suffering… these are to be expected.
Our Master, Jesus Christ, was crucified, and so why should we expect ease in this life? He was pierced through with nails, and we expect comfort? No, the reality is that we are called to be soldiers of the faith, stalwart, strong, and bearing up under the harsh burdens of warfare as we follow our General, our Lord, wherever it is He may take us.
This is why Paul says that many walk, according to their own bellies, as enemies of the cross. Life isn’t easy, it isn’t comfortable, and we as Christians shouldn’t expect it to be. Was the cross a recliner? Was it a Jacuzzi? No, it was a torture stick where criminals were bathed in blood. We should expect the same for ourselves, and, with Paul, as he says elsewhere, give thanks in all situations, no matter what may come.
But there are some who make Christianity some sort of easy road, thinking that because we love God and God loves us that He will bring nothing but earthly blessings to us. That idea goes against the very nature of the cross. At the foot of the cross, we fight as we are called to do, we should even long to die, seeking no ease or comfort for the sake of our Lord.
If He calls us to suffer, so we should. If He gives us rest, we take it. But, we always take what is given from the Lord’s hand with graciousness, for indeed, all that He gives to us, in this way, is grace. The enemies of the cross, they run away, they lounge, they give in to the pleasures of this world for their own sake. But, we who are called Christian, we who have been claimed in the Baptismal waters, we are bid to come and die.
You see, we fight at the cross, for the cross has been given to us through our Baptisms. Through that water and the Word, the cross speeds over 2000 years to you. And there, it makes you a soldier, one who is obedient to Christ, one who follows the Lord’s commands, one who is dressed for battle. And we are blessed in this fight against our sinful flesh, the world, and the devil. We are blessed because we are baptized in the name of the Lord. We are blessed in the name of the Lord.
Through Baptism, we have the armor of salvation, a shield which cannot be beaten down, a weapon to oppose the devil. We bear the cross into the world and it protects us for it is stained and covered with the blood of Christ; so, too, are we. This is why we are charged to take up our cross and follow after Jesus. We bear the cross, not as a burden to weigh us down and destroy us, but we bear the crucified and risen Lord to the world who protects us and guards us in all of our ways.
Those who are lovers of life, lovers of their bodies, they are the enemies of the cross. We are called to forsake these things for the sake of Christ. We who are redeemed are enemies of luxury and safety. We are called to bear all persecution, as Christ bore all the persecution of those who hated Him that He might be crucified to forgive the sins of the world. And as we suffer in this life, we look like Christ, and He is pleased.
Christ isn’t pleased because He longs to make you suffer. Suffering was no part of the Eden He created for us to live in forever. But, as we live in this sin-filled world, suffer we will, suffer we should, suffer we do, for that is a consequence sin. In fact, death, the wages of sin, your death, even ripples through into this life, and thus we suffer all through it leading to our deaths.
I don’t tell you these things to scare you. I tell you these things because when we suffer for the sake of Christ, we suffer with Him. And as Christ was raised from the dead following His suffering, so, too, shall you be raised from the dead. For if we die a death like His, we certainly shall be raised to life in a life like His. He shall transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body, by His power, by His authority. And there, in that Resurrection, we shall live in the new Eden, perfect and never suffering, never fighting for the cross again, for the cross shall be the sign and signal for all people.
The One who still bears the marks of the nails and spear in His hands and His side shall be, as He is, the light of the world, and all shall acknowledge Him to be Lord of All. And in that day, He will call all of us to Himself, and we will live under the sign of the cross in peace and tranquility. We will no longer need fight with our backs to one another so that we may see the attacks coming from all sides, but we shall make our dwelling with Christ, in safety, for He is the One who dwells with us.
I pray that none of the charges of Paul may be laid against any one of us, but we do know that we struggle in this life against our sinful flesh, the world, and the devil. I wish I knew none who struggled in this way, I wish I myself never struggled in my love for Christ and my love for the world. But I fear that we all do. And I fear that Paul’s words may, and rightly so, accuse us today. When we spend our lives eating and drinking, without a care in the world, when we ignore the needs of those around us, when we forsake our neighbor for our own safety, comfort, and security, these words should hit us hard because we should be imitating Christ.
But our Lord has claimed you, even as a sinner. Christ so loved you that, even with our weakness and love for the world, you would be His. You are His. You are claimed in Christ. So, like Paul, we should imitate Christ. That’s why Paul says to imitate Him, for He is working to imitate Christ. We should grieve over our sins, for they condemn us. If you have a belly, by all means eat. If you have a mouth, by all means drink. But we have been created for the love of God and the love of neighbor. And so, we moderate ourselves, we do what we need, so that when we see the needs of those around us growing, we may help them and be of service to them.
This is how our Lord has honored us. He gives up everything He has as the Son of God for our sake. He gives up His power, His majesty. He gives up His glory, His honor. He gives up even His clothes and His dignity on the cross. He gives up His life, all for you, so that you may be served in His death. He gives everything to you so that you may indeed have everything.
Indeed, we are called to give it all up, too. It’s how Christians are to live. You know that I am no prophet, but you should know your history as I do. And you should know that the ease of life that we Christians have had in this historical age, in this America, is coming to a close. The days of persecution are sadly closer at hand than many of us may think. When the time comes for you to give your life in service to your neighbor, when it comes time to lay down your life for the sake of Christ, confessing His name, a life of seeking to imitate Christ’s love for all, Christ’s love for you, will aid you. When you are beckoned into your rest, have a good death in Christ.
Let yourself suffer in this life, for it will prepare you well for your death. You will not earn salvation by your suffering, but you will glorify Christ in your suffering. As you suffer, you shall indeed become the Lord’s joy and His crown, as the Philippians were for Paul. When we give honor to our Lord in that way, He honors us by delighting in us, and letting us beautify Him.
So, do you fear the trials of this life? Don’t. The Lord has you in His hand. Do you suffer? Take heart. The Suffering Servant will take away your suffering through His cross. Do you fear you don’t have the heart to stand at the foot of the cross, fighting away the enemies of Christ for the sake of the Church? You are baptized, washed in the blood of the Lamb, made white and without sin in Him. You have been fed and strengthen in His true body and blood, and you will be again even today. You have the Lord’s name upon you, and none can truly stand against you. Though the world may strike you down, you shall see the vengeance of the Lord because you will rise from the dead. The body they killed will rise; they can’t stop it. And you shall be made new.
Our Lord has all power over heaven and earth, angels and demons. He receives worship from every corner of the universe. He sits at the right of God His Father. Even if the whole world were to rise up against you today, would we have reason to weep, lament, hide ourselves away? No, for our Lord is Lord of All. And you shall be made like Him. Do not fear the one who can destroy the body. Our Lord redeemed us, our bodies and our souls, and none can snatch us from His hand, not our flesh, not this world, not the devil. We are His always. We fight for Him, for He has fought for us and has already won. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord! Amen.
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