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.
Philippians 3:18-20
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.
But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
There are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ… their god is their appetite… and they think only about life here on earth.
Ouch. These verses are a good barometer to measure where we are spiritually. Paul had just finished writing about how worthless all his personal achievements are in comparison to knowing God. He was writing to believers to encourage them from his prison cell to keep on pressing on. To keep moving forward in pursing what really matters. Then, with tears in his eyes he writes about what makes people enemies of this pursuit.
Which camp do we fall into? Are we proving ourselves enemies of God by our appetites? By what we desire and crave? Are we thinking only about life here on earth – pursuing what we can see? Earthly treasures that soon fade away? (Matthew 6:19; 1 John 2:17)
Or are we in the second camp, knowing we are citizens of heaven, thinking of eternity and eagerly awaiting Christ’s return?
As citizens of heaven, we recognize that this earth is not our home. We have been sent to the world as ambassadors for Christ, here on temporary assignment – to know Him and make Him known. (1 Peter 1:17; 1 Peter 2:11)
Let us live honoring our assignment.
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us.
2 Corinthians 5:20
