Philippians 3:20-21- Eagerly Waiting

Scripture:
Philippians 3:20-21, NASB
20) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 
21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory,by 
the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.


Observation:
-we are citizens of heaven
-Jesus will transform us with a new body.
-Jesus has power over everything.  Everything in heaven and earth bows to His will.

Ruins at Philippi photo from Tom Price & Allan Brockway's Footsteps of Paul report which can be found here: http://www.abrock.com/Greece-Turkey/FootstepsIntro.html

Application:

Since it has been awhile, let me review a bit, in my last post, Philippians 3:17-19,  I talked about the difference between those who walk with God and those who "walk according to the pattern of the world."  Now Paul is moving us on to why our lives our different from those who follow the world's pattern.

It has struck me this morning that Paul says we "eagerly wait for a Savior."  Hmmmm, I do not know about you but I did not wake up today thinking about Jesus' return.  I woke up thinking,  "Do I really have to get up now... the sun is not even up yet" I stumbled into the bathroom to get myself ready before our carpool left for work.  I made my cup of tea and settled down at the computer to see what awaited my at my office and away we went with the start of a new semester.  Now I sit here reading these words, "we eagerly wait."  I wonder- when was the last time I even thought about Christ's return-probably one night looking up at the stars.  I hear people mention Christ's return when life is not going too well...but I get the impression from Paul's words that this is not the way it should be.  Would this morning have looked differently if I had awakened with a sense that it could be today.  Would I have grumbled and reluctantly drug myself out of bed.  How would my day look if I eagerly approached it because I was waiting for Christ's return?  Would I make different choices?  Would I hesitate to share the Gospel with those who cross my path?  Would I hesitate to stop and help a person in need along my way?  Would I fear what might come?

We are so far removed from those early Christians that I think we have become almost immune to such thoughts.  I am already making plans for our next summer vacation in 2014.  Yes, I will add that little tagline, "Lord willing" to my plans....but has it become just that...a tagline?  Not sure I want to give that idea too much thought as other things I say without really thinking come to mind, even the Amen's I put at the end of my prayers are giving me pause...do I really think about what that means or is it just a period I place on the end to signify I am finished? (Amen (aleph-mem-nun) means to be firm, confirmed, reliable, faithful, have faith, believe.)

What does a life look like that is eagerly waiting for the return of our Lord?  Clearly, because of the preceding verses, it will have an impact on our daily walk.  It is also a statement of faith, for if Christ is to return it means He is indeed resurrected, He is alive....everything I believe hangs on that wonderful truth.  It means that when when suffering or persecution come I am not afraid, Jesus is coming back, one way or the other I will be in His presence.  This life is temporary and full of trouble but we can face it with courage because Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.")  I like that.  It is easy to say this now.  Life is comfortable and I am not facing any tribulation, no troubles, no persecution.  I sometimes wonder if it is on its way with the way things are going in the USA and within the churches that populate our land.  
Whatever comes...the good, the bad, the ugly....my mind needs to remember these things.  Jesus is coming, it could be at any moment.  How eagerly am I waiting?   He has the power to transform me and my way of thinking.  Everything is under His authority; that is what it means when Paul says Jesus has the power to subject all things to Himself.  All things.  That is why Paul and Peter and and many others could praise God from their prison cells; could praise God when they were being beaten and stoned and facing whatever horrors the world threw at them.  If this world is all there is then we are living our lives in vain.  If Christ was not raised from the dead then all of this is meaningless.  For my part, I believe what the Bible has to say because I believe that it is indeed God's word to man, not just another book.  I believe that Jesus was resurrected on that glorious day.  And I intend to walk with Him through this life.   I want my days to be filled with eager anticipation of Christ's return.  I want to see what  a life lived that way looks like.  There is so much transforming yet to be done in my life, in my heart and mind and soul, and I am kind of excited about what that means for me as I continue down the path towards the future.    

Grace, Peace and Mercy dear friends,
Deb

Where does this path lead? On the Oregon Coast 2013