Realizing God's Plan In Life # 2

Realizing God's Plan In Life # 2

Paul changes his figure, but goes on with the same idea, "among whom ye are seen as lights in the world." These are the very people, the twisted and blinded by the darkness of sin, who need the light. Jesus is the real light of the world, but the followers of Christ also pass on the torch and so bear light to others. Here the Philippians are pictured as "luminaries" rather than as lights in the world of darkness. As the moon and the stars appear in the night, so the Christians come out to give light in the darkness. The gospel has the principle of life in it. John's gospel unites light and life as descriptive of the life that Christ offers to men "the light of life" (John 8:12). Thank God for the men and women who do take the light into the dark corners of our cities. What would our modern cities be like without our churches? The answer is the cities of Japan, of China, of India today. The word of life quickens to life and brings light to the darkened soul.

Paul's Pride (verse 16)

"For a ground of glorying in the day of Christ." This clause is related to all of verse 15 and the preceding part of 16. The day of accounts comes to figure more largely in Paul's mind as he grows older. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the sleepless watch of the shepherds of souls "as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief; for this were unprofitable for you." (Heb. 13:17). Paul longs to have "whereof to glory" in the day of Christ. The success of the Philippians will give Paul something tangible to present to Christ. They will be stars in his crown. He means by "day of Christ" the judgment day, commonly termed the day of the Lord outside of this Epistle. Paul does not wish to be saved "so as by fire" with all his works gone (1 Cor. 3:15). When that day comes and Paul looks back upon his work in Philippi, he does wish to feel "that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain." He has the metaphor of the stadium before him as in Galatians 2:2 when he expresses the same dread about the Galatians. He does not wish it all to come to nothingness. The word for labor here means the weariness of labor. Toil and sweat and weariness were all for naught. It is a pitiful case when the preacher has to see the people go back to the flesh-pots of Egypt and leave his work null and void. The Philippians will be Paul's jewels in the presence of Christ.

Paul's Sacrifice (verse 17)

"Yea, though I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith," Paul adds. He will not shrink from death in order to be of service to them and to help them in their efforts to press on in the Christian life. He hopes to live, but he stands in the constant presence of death, and he is not afraid. He had faced death at Philippi and often since. It will come some day. He is ready now. It is not his apostolic office, but his very life that he offers. The picture here is of their faith in the sense of their Christian life as a sacrifice and priestly service. The Philippians as priests lay down upon the altar their Christian lives (faith and fidelity). Upon this Paul is ready to pour out his own life as an additional sacrifice in their service. It is not necessary to press the point whether Paul has in mind the Jewish custom of pouring the drink offering around the altar. Paul is willing to spend and be spent in the service of the Philippians. One thinks of David Livingstone who gave his life for the healing of the open sore of the world of Africa.

Mutual Joy (verses 17-18)

"I joy and rejoice" with you all," says Paul. He is glad by himself to make the offering of his life, if this supreme sacrifice is demanded. He will not shrink back, but will meet it gladly, and all the more readily since he can share his joy with them. Fellowship is a blessed reality. Paul is glad on his own account that he has been the instrument in their salvation. He is still more joyful at the experience of grace which they have in Christ. Joy is not selfish, but wishes company. "And in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me." Play up to your part of the joy. Phutarch tells of the messenger from Marathon who expired on the first threshold in Athens with these words on his lips: "Rejoice and rejoice." Nowhere in the Epistle is Paul so insistent about joy as here. The Christian is rich in his joy in Christ. What joy it will be in heaven to tell the story of the triumph of Christ over sin in your life and in mine.

~Archibald T. Robertson~

(The End)