The Real Journey – Philippians 3:17-4:1
A pastor friend of mine is coining the phrase “Jesus is on the Way” as his sermon series for the season of Lent. Everyone is on a journey, a life that they are walking out day in and day out. One’s journey might be living in a hospital for months on end fighting for life; one’s might be a journey of depression, guilt, and addiction. One’s might be revolving around their children, or revolving on what their retirement is going to look like. As different as we all are, our journeys are equally as different. And yet, Jesus is on the way. Jesus is on the way to meet us. He is the way, and He made the way. Particularly in this season of Lent we focus on and meditate on Jesus’s journey to the cross. He is literally on His way to the cross to put an end to suffering, bondage, guilt, and a life of damnation. He is on His way towards reconciliation, healing, eternal life and freedom.
So it made me pause for a moment in Philippians 3:17 when Paul urges us “to pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.” Is he asking us to live a life of conformity? After himself? Certainly someone as noble as Paul wouldn’t be asking us to follow him instead of Jesus Christ himself. Would he? Absolutely not. Even a few verses before (12-16) he says that he is not perfect. He has not obtained perfection, but that he still presses on towards the perfection of God in Christ Jesus in his day-to-day walk here on this earth until he reaches heaven. So why would he ask fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to follow himself? I believe he was asking them to be of the same mind in following Christ. He was asking them to do something much bigger. To live a real life journey with Christ. In our day it is so easy to point to the scriptures if and when we need a reminder of who Jesus is, and what He stands for. Our Bibles become a reference guide to righteous living when we need a reminder. But in the time that Paul was talking to the church in Philippi he couldn’t say “everyone open your Bible to Matthew 5-7 and let’s see what Jesus teaches us when he give the Sermon on the Mount.” No, Paul was urging us to truly know Christ; his heart, his servant hood, his self-sacrificial way of living by watching others who did know Christ and to model their hearts after Him; being sharpened by one another (Prov. 27:17) and utilizing the Holy Spirit to know him.
He goes on to say that it is so easy for many to think they are following God but are actually following their own appetite over things of this world (Phil. 3:18-20). Often it is easy for us (me included) to sit back and have a laissez-faire attitude about our walks with Christ. He already has come to make a way for us, we have accepted it, and now we will sit and wait for him to come. Just follow the rules, live a life that is outwardly pleasing to your Christian brothers and sisters, and go to church. The term ‘Jesus is on the way’ implies that He is currently, still, right now, literally on the way. He is redeeming, reconciling, and reforming this world for His kingdom purposes. While we reflect on His journey to the cross and what that epic display means for us, it is just as vital to be reminded that He is now, today, right this moment still on the way. He meets you in those times of fleshly desires to satisfy your appetite. And loves you in your vulnerability to submit to Him. He loves you. And then invites you to walk with Him, to follow Him.
It is so indispensible for us to remember that our journey on this earth is going to be finished one day in sweet reunion with the Jesus whom we already know. While we wait for that day, let us be reminded of what Paul said, “that our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory…Therefore, stand firm in the Lord, my beloved”(Phil. 3:20-21a, 4:1).
The importance of knowing Jesus, the Jesus who is on the way, to meet us, renew us and charge us with the task of standing firm in His abounding love for His glory alone is the difference between simply living and going on the greatest adventure journey you have ever been on. Stand firm, Jesus is on the way!
Amy Jansen
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