Investing in Eternity

Philippians 1:12-30

Introduction

I think that for many of us, if we were to critically examine how we’ve established our routines and organized our homes there would be room for improvement. Many of us likely neglect this type of critical examination, and when we do examine how we’ve set these things up, we will miss subtle elements that can be important.

When you look at your routines and spaces, what stands out to you as being the most important? Many of us have visual reminders we’ve set up, likely unknowingly that steers us away from what is most important. A cell phone on the nightstand, a tv that dominates our family room. These things are not necessarily bad but we must recognize that we live in a culture that emphasizes instant gratification and convenience.

Philippians 3:19–20 ESV

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,

How can we ensure our eyes are focused on eternity? We live in a world that is constantly attempting to have us think about now. Instant gratification and pleasure?

Perhaps we should take a lesson from Benedictine monks:

In the sixth Century the founder of the Benedictine order, St. Benedict, believed it important that the men of his order understood an important truth - they were going to die. If you examine statistics, it is a near 100% possibility.

For centuries, monks of the Benedictine order would, each day, go into their prayer cell with three items: a candle, Scripture, and a skull.

Now when we picture a skull, we likely picture something like this (show a plastic skull), but you have to remember that this certainly wouldn’t have been the case. They would have had a real skull. Likely from a past member of their order.

Most of these monasteries would also have a cemetery. Many of these cemeteries would purposely leave the next grave pre-dug, so that when monks passed by they would be reminded that one day soon, they would find themselves in that cemetery.

What these monks did, was set up for themselves daily reminders that life is fleeting, and that they need to live with an eternal perspective.

Having an eternal perspective, as God commands us to do, is powerful. It allows us to say things like Paul does in Philippians 1:21

Philippians 1:21 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

What a powerful statement. What a powerful truth to live by.

This would not come easy, and no doubt the statement Paul makes here in Philippians is not the statement of an immature believer. This sets for us a goal. We should seek spiritual maturity that leads us to the place where we too might say, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Pray

Part 1

The message this morning is going to be anchored in Philippians 1:21, which I just read to you. A passage that is likely familiar to many of you.

As we examine this passage in its broader context, we are going to be focusing on the idea of living with an eternal perspective. In the midst of a culture that emphasizes immediate gratification, we want to see what God’s word has to say about where our focus should be.

I’m not going to try to convince you that you should live with an eternal perspective, that should be quite clear. I’m also reminded of many sermon illustrations I’ve seen to emphasize the importance of having our hearts set on eternity:

The first I though of was a famous sermon illustration from Francis Chan where he takes a long rope and places a small piece of red tape at the beginning of the rope. He tells the audience that the piece of red tape is their life on earth. And there’s truth to this illustration, and understanding that we need to have our eyes set on eternity is essential.

As we examine this passage together, I am going to lay out for you 3 signs that you are living with an eternal perspective. We are called to have our hearts set on eternity - so are you? This is not the definitive list, but according to this passage these are 3 things that we should strive for, remembering that Paul’s statement is something to aspire to. It is the goal, and by focusing and reflecting on the content of this passage we can seek to better attain this goal ourselves.

Read Philippians 1:12-14

Philippians 1:12–14 ESV

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

The first sign that we are correctly living with eternity in mind is that in our lives the gospel comes first.

Pastor Darryl explained last week that Paul is writing the letter to Philippi from prison. In Paul’s life it is obvious that the Gospel came first.

1 Corinthians 9:22–23 ESV

I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Do you think Paul had some questions about why he was stuck in prison? I’m guessing that if we were in Paul’s shoes we might be wondering what purpose God would have in keeping us in prison. Paul could have been sharing the gospel to encourage believers, plant churches, sail to regions that had never heard the good news, yet he finds himself stuck in prison.

We don’t get even a hint that Paul is questioning God’s plan for the advancement of the Gospel. Instead Paul rejoices about the prisoners and guards that are being changed by the Gospel.

Yes, in Paul’s life the Gospel came first, but he recognized that God would place him exactly where he needed to be.

We recently finished up grad season. I was fortunate enough to have many conversations with recent grads about their future plans, and establishing these plans are important. But I was reminded of a story about British prime minister Gladstone. I don’t know if this story is true or apocryphal, but the story goes that he was talking to a young man on the eve of graduation:

“Mr. Gladstone, I would appreciate your giving me a few minutes in which I might lay before you my plans for the future. I would like to study law.”

“Yes,” said the great statesman, “and what then?”

“Then, sir, I would like to gain entrance to the Bar of England.”

“Yes, young man, and what then?”

“Then, sir, I hope to have a place in Parliament, in the House of Lords.”

“Yes, young man, what then?” pressed Gladstone.

“Then I hope to do great things for Britain.”

“Yes, young man, and what then?”

“Then, sir, I hope to retire and take life easy.”

“Yes, young man, and what then?” he tenaciously asked.

“Well, then, Mr. Gladstone, I suppose I will die.”

“Yes, young man, and what then?”

The young man hesitated and then said, “I never thought any further than that, sir.”

Looking at the young man sternly and steadily, Gladstone said, “Young man, you are a fool!

A rightly-ordered life sees us hold an eternal perspective and an eternal perspective necessitates that we put the Gospel first.

It is right and good to draw up plans for the future - I’d argue that all of us should have well prepared and thought through plans for our future, and that future could involve becoming a lawyer or a politician. It could involve becoming a husband or wife, father or mother, etc. It could involve seeking retirement, or perhaps even a dream vacation. But for any of these plans to be correctly ordered, we need to see them through the lens of eternity, and seeing these plans through the lens of eternity should compel us to carry forward Jesus’ call for us to advance the gospel.

For the politician this could mean

For the mother it could be

God has placed you where you need to be, don’t resist his call. You don’t know how God might use you to advance the Gospel:

DA Carson once preached a sermon where he told the story of his friend, Peter O’Brien, that came to Christ:

When he was a youth, neither of Peter’s parents were believers. But his mom became impacted by the faithful witness of their neighbour. The neighbour was a simple lady with a sincere faith in Christ who unfortunately lived with an incurable disease and suffered day after day - but she never complained. Her attitude made a tremendous impact on Peter’s mom and she eventually put her trust in Christ. Peter was then later led to the Lord by his mother. Peter would go on to seminary and get a PhD. He would then do to India and preach the gospel for many years. Later in life he wrote many valuable Bible commentaries.

Now if you had said to this simple , suffering woman: “Here’s the deal: If you will glorify Christ in your suffering, then as a consequence the Gospel will be preached throughout India and many will come to know christ. Pastors will be trained in the Bible and hundreds if not thousands of sermons will be preached. Will you now suffer faithfully every day?” She would say yes. She would say yes because obviously this was a woman who had eternity set in her heart.

This leads me to the second indication that you have a heart set on eternity:

Part 2

2. You will have joy despite your circumstances.

Read Philippians 1:18-20

Philippians 1:18–20 ESV

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul did not know what the result of his imprisonment might be. He recognized that this imprisonment may eventually lead to his death, and according Christian tradition, it did. But what we find in Paul’s desperate circumstance is joy.

This is a book oddly filled with joy. Oddly, because Paul is in prison. 16 times joy is mentioned, derivatives of this word are mentioned another 19 times.

Reading this book just once will very quickly let us know that joy is a choice more than a feeling:

Happiness is externally triggered but joy is internally triggered.

Happiness is externally triggered: my teams wins, I’m happy. I get a raise, I’m happy. I get a new boat, I’m happy.

Joy is something far more profound and is tied to our relationship with Jesus so that whether I am running around free or captive in prison I can have joy.

Paul’s words in verse 19 are a direct quotation from the book of Job. Paul is quoting from the Greek translation of the book of Job, for just as Job suffered though he committed no crime, Paul sees himself undergoing a similar trial.

Was Job happy? Did Job have joy?

Most of us read Job wrong. If I were to ask you, what is the book of Job about many would answer that it’s about suffering, yet if we read to the New Testament we find quite quickly that it’s not about suffering it’s about endurance. What is the relationship between endurance and joy?

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Joy is an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love and promises. Joy is a decision, a posture, an attitude. It doesn’t mean you constantly walk around with a smile on your face and your full of enthusiasm and energy. Joy means that you’ve set your eyes, not on the temporary circumstances of the present, but on the eternal hope of glory. This is the source of joy.

When Jesus was presented with the cross, he was in agony about what was about to happen. Isaiah points to the messiah, Jesus, as a man of sorrows, for certainly sorrow was found at the cross, yet in Hebrews 12:2

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus looked past the horror of the cross to enjoy the joy beyond it.

Part 3

Read Philippians 1:27-28

Philippians 1:27–28 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Finally, what we should find when we have eternity in our hearts is a unity of purpose.

In verses 15-18 Paul recognizes that many are preaching the gospel, but they are doing it with the wrong motive. This would have been something to cause division. Some would be following Paul, others would be critical that preachers are using Paul's imprisonment to gain popularity for themselves in finding followers and preaching God’s word. Paul says, is the gospel being preached? Yes! Then that is my only concern. Let us find unity. Share the gospel, find hope and joy in it’s message and set your eyes on things above.

Paul argued that when we set our eyes on eternity, we can stand firm - united.

The idea of striving side by side projects the image of a unit of soldiers. At his time soldiers would lock shields to fight effectively. They would train rigorously because if only one faltered it would spell disaster for the entire unit. So, Paul is pleading with the church to stand firm, united in their shared purpose.

What is this shared purpose? According to Paul, as laid out in this passage it’s found in the passage that anchors this message.

To live is Christ.

Conclusion

Read Philippians 1:21-26

Philippians 1:21–26 ESV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

The application of this verse appears with the little phrase at the beginning, “For me.” Paul resolved that he would live for Christ. I told you that Paul’s words here are not the words of an immature believer. They are the words of a mature believer. A believer that has been persecuted and tested. A believer that has sacrificed and found God to be faithful. A believer that puts the Gospel first. A believer who has found joy despite his circumstances. A believer that has set his eyes not on this world, but on eternity.

Everyone must fill in this blank personally. How would you complete this sentence, “For me, living is __________”?

It often gets filled in with cheap substitutes: money, pleasure, power, beauty, entertainment, etc. But using the logic of this passage, notice what fills the second blank, “Dying is __________,” if you fill the first with one of these substitutes. If you say, “Living is money,” then you would fill in the second blank with “Dying is being broke.” After all, you can’t take it with you. If you say, “Living is pleasure,” then you would conclude, “Dying is pain.” What about power? The second blank would be, “Dying is being powerless.” What about saying, “Living is beauty”? You must conclude, “Dying is losing all beauty and rotting.” If you live for entertainment, then your gravestone would read, “Dying is having no more fun.”

In your short life, what will you live for? What will you die for? You don’t want to live merely for money, sex, power, beauty, or entertainment. These are gifts from God, to be stewarded properly, but they aren’t our aims in life. They often turn into idols. Instead, you want to spend your life on something that not only matters now but will also matter in a billion years: Christ. If you say, “Living is Christ,” then you can joyfully say, “Dying is gain.” Living for Christ not only takes the sting out of death but also makes death gloriously attractive.

To fulfill God’s purpose in us we need to live lives that are pleasing to him. And as we’ve seen this morning, that means sharing the gospel, in word and deed. It means finding hope despite our circumstances. It means finding unity amongst the church because of our shared vision for the world and our community. It means setting our eyes on eternity.

When there is something important, that you want to continually reflect on we we set up reminders for ourselves. Often these reminders are visual. In our home Amy sets up Bible passages. There’s one stuck to our cupboards right now.

The benedictine monks also set up for themselves visual reminders. The skull and the empty grave. I wanted to help you set up for yourselves a visual reminder that we need to have our eyes set on eternity - to live is christ to die is gain.

In my research I found that you can purchase little Benedictine coins. I thought these were pretty cool. They follow the catholic tradition and are counted as a sacrament and are supposed to help you with good health, etc.

Now I wanted to set up a reminder for you, but I didn’t want to bring a bag of skulls and I didn’t know where I’d be able to dig the empty grave. I also didn’t want to distribute a coin that some argue has some intrisic power because it doesn’t. So what I’ve done is bring with me some coins. They’re not Canadians coins because I wanted something unique, something that would stand out a bit. So what I have are coins from all over the world. I saw some in here from Italy, Malaysia, Romania, Jordan, etc.

To get a coin all you have to do is ask me for one. I’ll be here after the service - I’m staying for the BBQ. You just need to ask.

Take a coin as a reminder - it holds no power. Depending on the currency you get it may hold increasingly less power with inflation.

I want you to take this coin and put it somewhere where you will see it or somewhere that you will be reminded that we need to have our hearts set on eternity. The coin is a symbol that you are investing in eternity. It’s a symbol to remind you that you are investing in eternity when you have your eyes not on this world but on what lasts. That this is done by sharing and living our the Gospel. It’s done by having joy despite our circumstances. It’s done when we have a shared vision as a community of believers.