Keeping our future in mind

 June 12 2022

Philippians 4:4-9

This past week I have been thinking about Disney World, of all things, because it was seventeen years ago, in 2005, that my in-laws took our family there to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They had a motor home to travel in which was fun but since it only slept five people that meant that two people had to sleep in a tent. So, yes, Jennifer and I had a wonderful time spending a week in what could only be called a sweat lodge because as any one who has been to Orlando can attest, June can be a hot and humid time of the year. I mean, after you have stood for close to an hour on hot pavement to hop on a ride that lasts not much more than a few minutes you can understand why Disney world is called the most magical place in the world. Needless to say, I haven’t been back since. But, this week, I did think about one of the attractions that we visited there which was the Carousel of Progress. This was a ride which displayed the progress that technology has made in our lives, starting at the turn of the century and then showing the changes in the twenties and the forties and finally ending in the present day. Back in 2005 they thought we would have virtual reality games and a home where everything would be voice activated; I guess they messed up on that, didn’t they? What I also remembered was the theme song that was continually playing which was “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”. This song helped convey the overall ideal of the Carousel of Progress, that through technology the world is just going to get better and better, each tomorrow will be better than today. I’d say that’s a rather optimistic view, don’t you?

I was thinking about this great big beautiful tomorrow because this is exactly what Paul writes about as he wraps up his letter to the church at Philippi. Now, Paul doesn’t come right out and talk about tomorrow but we know that this is on his mind because he tells his audience to not be anxious. Anxiety, like worry is a condition of the heart which comes about because of the uncertainty of our tomorrows. There is a very important reason why Paul addresses this issue of anxiety here, as he closes his letter, and that is that it is anxiety which is where the life of a Jesus follower begins to unravel. The Greek word Paul uses here for anxiety is a word which means to be divided or to go to pieces, which is exactly what worry and anxiety do to us. It is anxiety and worry about our future that causes us to believe that we need to set aside a portion of what we have today just in case something goes off the rails tomorrow. We can’t help but think of the phrase, “to squirrel something away”, because this is what we really are acting like, busy squirrels who are burying some of the nuts that they find so that someday in the future they might find them and be thankful that they had the foresight to be prepared. Yet, what those squirrels also know is that very often when they go back to find their buried treasure what they find is that those nuts have begun to rot, or some other animal has found them and found them very delicious. In a very same way, when we try and store up treasures for tomorrow, what we find is that it is very difficult to keep our treasure safe so that what happens is that we actually become more anxious because now, instead of worrying about tomorrow we instead are worried about the treasure that we hope will give us some peace about tomorrow. So, our treasures become our focus, so much so, that when faced with the needs of those around us we find that we treasure our treasures above another person who stands in need of what we treasure. Instead of forgiving what others owe us, but can not pay back, we instead seek to wring out of them the very last coin that is ours because the treasure is to be treasured above all else. This is the lie of Satan who seeks to kill, steal and destroy and he does so by causing us to believe that it is alright to not love another when we have the means to do so even though Jesus teaches us that to hate someone else is the same thing as murder. Satan also whispers in our ear that it is okay to withhold from those who need it even though to do so is taking what is rightfully theirs in the eyes of God. So, what happens is that because of our treasuring our treasures we tear apart, we destroy the unity that God is at work to bring in to reality. So, even though we may speak of our love and devotion to God in reality when we mistreat people on account of our obsession with our treasures we actually are going against the God we state that we love. Are you beginning to see why anxiety means to be divided because we end up divided in our loyalty to God and his purposes. Not only that but we also become people who are focused on self-preservation instead of being people who overflow with God’s self-giving love which is the ultimate tragedy because then we no longer bear the image of God out into the world.

So, what’s the big deal about anxiety, well, in a word, everything. This is why Paul is addressing it here before he signs off.  The good news, as Paul tells us is that the Lord is near, he is at hand. Take a look at your hand and know that the God who searches hearts, the one who knows of our concerns before we speak them, our God is this close to you. This is the God with whom we can cry out to with our wishes, with our needs knowing that we can do so because of the good grace of God. It is the faithfulness of God, this is the source of this peace which is from above that Paul writes about, this peace which Paul states will guard our hearts and our minds. Yet, even so Paul understands that it is not enough to tell us that all we need is to don’t worry, be happy because God is faithful.  Sure, God is near to us in the here and now but what about tomorrow? Our minds are seized by all of the things that we might have to face in our future and you know, Paul is aware of this. This is why he insists that we instead focus our minds on a reality that he outlines in a string of words. Now, I do not believe that Paul just strung together some very powerful words randomly. No, I believe that what Paul is describing here is that great, big, beautiful tomorrow that God is bringing about that through the Holy Spirit we can live in here today. Paul could relate to what the writer of Hebrews says in the second chapter of his letter, where he tells us that “…now in putting everything in subjection to Jesus, God, the Father, has left nothing outside of the control of Jesus. At present, though, we do not see everything in subjection to the reign and rule of Jesus. As we look around our world today we can say emphatically, “Amen”, to what the writer of Hebrews is saying. Even so, a great, big, beautiful tomorrow is coming because even though we might not see everything under the rule and reign of Jesus nonetheless, he is in control and the future that he has for us is a certainty. How can we state this with such faith? We can have faith that at the end of all things, there is going to be a wonderful tomorrow because that tomorrow is to be lived in the here and now, right here in the church through the working of the Holy Spirit who brings that future into our present through his presence.

As we ponder on just what that future day will be like when at last Jesus will put everything in subjection to his will, what words pop into your head? How might you describe this ultimate future that God is preparing for us to live in? Just what will it be like when at last heaven and earth are one? Well, we do not have to speculate on the matter because heaven and earth were one in the life of Jesus. This is why I believe Paul begins by telling us to think on that which is true. Now, I don’t believe that Paul is telling us to think on various truths that we might know but rather as we look at the way that this word is defined in the Greek we discover that what the word means is a reality that can not be hidden, something that is undeniable, a fact. This is how the early followers spoke of their experience with Jesus. There, as they walked and talked with Jesus these first disciples began to be aware that here in this very earthly man was the undeniable reality of heaven. Jesus was not some great teacher; no, he is God and not only God the Son but he also is one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. This is what was revealed upon the cross for there Jesus the Son was offered up as the perfect sacrifice of love to his Heavenly Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. This reality of Jesus was confirmed when three days later when through the power of the Holy Spirit by the will of his Heavenly Father, Jesus arose from the dead. Jesus is this reality of heaven united with earth that cannot be denied. So, if we wonder about the reality of heaven and earth being united at the end of days, we just have to look to Jesus to see that, yes, this is a reality already, a reality that we experience when the Holy Spirit is present with us speaking to us the words of Jesus who does the will of his Heavenly Father. This is the truth we can live in, a truth that is undeniable.

Paul also states that we are to think about that which is honorable. Many translators miss the mark by translating the Greek in this manner. The word used here by Paul means to revere, to be in awe, to behold the majesty of God, to worship him. This fits much better with the understanding that Paul is having us focus our minds on that great, big, beautiful, tomorrow which is on its way. What will we be doing when Jesus returns? The answer is that we will worship the Lamb, the one we are in awe of, the one whose glory will overwhelm us. This is what John saw in his vision of heaven, as found in the fifth chapter of the book of Revelation where he writes that he looked around  and there before the throne were the “living creatures and the elders and the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads, thousands upon thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power, and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Can you imagine such a glorious day when we will join in the vast assembly before the throne of our king in worship of our him? This is what Paul tells us that should fill our minds with wonder.

Paul also goes on to speak of justice. This is a clue that what Paul is speaking about is that day when heaven is united with earth because it is on that day, as the prophet Amos foretold, justice will roll down like waters and righteousness will be an ever flowing stream. There will be justice because all will have to stand before the righteous judge and those who have refused to offer mercy and grace to the least of these will find themselves unable to enter the new reality that is coming. On that day it will be discovered that when we fed those who were hungry, and clothed those who needed it and cared for the sick and in prison, that we had done so to Jesus. So, yes, there are many who live as if their evil has no consequence but Paul tells us not to focus on the injustices of this world but rather hold fast to the truth that justice is coming and be certain that we who know this live as if this knowledge makes all the difference.

The difference that is to mark are lives is what is often translated as being pure but the word is also variously translated as being holy. This is what Paul spoke about in the third chapter of his letter to the Philippians. There he spoke of the importance of being disciplined by our Heavenly Father so that we might share in his holiness. This holiness of God is his steadfast love and faithfulness. As we wait for the justice of God to be revealed we know that in these times of injustice we may be called on to suffer for the gospel. In these moments we must remember that this is when God is disciplining us, bringing us to maturity so that we might more fully reflect his steadfast love and faithfulness in our witness. This holiness is as the writer of Hebrews also tells us in the twelfth chapter of his letter, what we must be if we are to see the Lord, to be a part of that glorious day of his return.

So, on the day that heaven and earth are at last fully united then Paul tells us the world will be a place of affectionate caring for one another, intimate friendship will abound as we will all live out what it means to be a part of the family of God. Think about what the world will be like when each person is known to be someone worthy of the greatest expression of love?

This understanding that our future is going to be one of great love and affection for every person leads quite naturally to Paul’s next thought which is that we are to have our minds focused on what is commendable. When you dissect the Greek word that is used here, what you find is that it means to bring the good to light. When we find this out then it is not hard for us to hear what Paul wrote in the fifth chapter of Ephesians where he writes that the church of Ephesus was once darkness but now they were light in the Lord. Therefore because they were the light they were to walk as children of the light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Can we comprehend what our world will be like when what is spoken is only good, only righteous, and only the truth? As hard as it may be for us to wrap our minds around it, this is exactly what Paul tells us we must consider and think about because that day is soon approaching.

Lastly, Paul writes that we are to have our minds set upon what is excellent. This means that we are to think about that which is the highest form of virtue, that which is the most praise worthy of what we can set our mind upon. In other words, just as Paul began his list with Jesus, here is he is ending his list with Jesus. As Paul taught in the third chapter of this letter, we are to pursue the life of Jesus as a hunter goes after their prey. We are to seek after Jesus and his life because he and he alone is worthy of the price of our life. His life is the life of heavenly virtue that we are to make a reality in our life.

Now, as great as our imaginations are, it is still difficult for us to fully able to behold the wonder, the splendor, the richness of that day when heaven and earth are finally united, the new creation at last eclipsing the old. Yet, I believe that Paul also understood this because Paul also understood that the church, in a very limited way, was to be the place where the last day is lived out today. You see, in the midst of the church there is to be the truth the undeniable reality of heaven. Here, in the presence of God’s people is to be known the very presence of God himself, earth and heaven here as one. Here, as the people of God gather together, there is awe and reverence for the Lamb who was slain, he alone is worthy to receive our power and our wealth and our wisdom and our honor and our glory and our blessing not just then but here and now. Here, among us is justice to be found. We do not judge because we know the mercy of our righteous judge and because of his being merciful to us upon the cross we extend mercy, grace and forgiveness to all. Here, among us, the people of God, is a holiness unto the Lord. We are people who are being disciplined by our Heavenly Father so that as his children his holiness might be seen in us, his steadfast love and faithfulness might mark our life. Here is where the world can see people who sincerely care for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Here, we who were once darkness, now live as the light bringing everything to light through how we live and speak. Here, we live as people who hold as our one pursuit to be a little more like Jesus today than we were yesterday, to strive to follow his upward call. You see, when Paul says that we are to think on these things what he is really telling us is that we are to live with an awareness of who we are as the church, the place where our great, big, beautiful tomorrow is being lived today. When we focus our minds on who we are as a church this is when we experience the peace that is from above, a peace that our minds cannot fully comprehend. You see, when we experience what will be our inheritance in just a small way in the here and now, we can rest our hearts because we know that the best is yet to come. As we live out this future God has for us in the here and now, this gives us the assurance that if God is bringing about the most wonderful and glorious future in ever greater measure then he most certainly can handle whatever tomorrow can bring. Think on these things! To the glory of God!Amen!