Role Models

Philippians 3:17-4:1

As a boy picks up his baseball bat and practices hitting the ball, he tells his friends he is going to be just like his favorite baseball player. The little girl might dress up in her mother’s clothes, trying to be like her. Maybe she comes home from school and pretends to be like her teacher to her dolls.  Many of us have, either consciously or subconsciously, followed role models. Our teachers encouraged us to be like the best student in class. Our parents told us to be like such and such a person.  Even as adults we might try to act like someone we admire. In our Scripture today the Apostle Paul writes to the Philippian believers, encouraging them to follow godly examples in their Christian walk. Let’s look at this portion of the Book of Philippians and see what we can learn.

After we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior, there should be a notable change in our behavior and conduct.  We have become a new person, and both our outward and inward actions should reflect this. Writing to the Philippians, Paul urged these “baby Christians” to follow godly examples (vs. 17).  When I was a young Christian there were a couple of older, very godly people whose Christ-like walk I wanted to follow. Paul encouraged believers to follow his example. Not that he believed himself to be perfect, but he knew the focus of his life, his striving, was to be like Jesus.  Could we ask people the same thing - to follow our example to be more like Christ? New Christians should look for other godly believers whose conduct is worthy of following, and older Christians should strive to be that example.

Paul warns that not everyone who carries the name “Christian” is worthy of following the example of (vs. 18-19).  Many do not live up to Jesus’ model. They want to satisfy their own desires, and don’t even think of the needs of others.  There is a danger of false teachers that we need to beware of. They pose as true followers of Christ, but really they aren’t.  Paul speaks quite plainly, and doesn’t mince words. He calls these people “enemies of the cross”. Jesus’ cross exposes us for who we really are - hopeless, helpless sinners who need a Savior.  On that cross Jesus paid the price for our sins. Don’t be an enemy of the cross.

Paul writes on in his letter to the Philippian church, reminding them that heaven is a believer’s true home, not this earth (vs. 20).  Our names are registered there (Luke 10:20). Our inheritance awaits us there (I Peter 1:4). This world has so fallen into sin. People may persecute us for our belief in Jesus, and for our stand for what is right.  We should not get discouraged as we are not home yet. Do not be so tied to this world that we really don’t look forward to Jesus’ return, thinking that it would “interrupt” our worldly life.

Paul continues by telling of the new bodies that we will receive in heaven (vs. 21).  When we believers die, we are immediately in the presence of God, and we are given a brand new body.  There will be no sickness, no deformity, no failings. Our minds and bodies will be completely purified in God’s presence. The bodies we receive when we are raised from the dead will be glorious, like Jesus’ resurrected body.

Paul closes this passage by urging us to “stand fast” in the Lord (vs. 1).  We shouldn’t let the unbelievers and “enemies of the cross” knock us over with their ungodly actions and examples.  I think of American football players who try to stay standing and seek to get to their goal, while the opposing team keeps trying to knock them down and stop them.  We need to stand firm like them. To stand firm we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Remember that this world is not our home!