Lent 2 Wednesday Philippians 3:17-4:1 We Await a Savior

Many years ago there was a prisoner who had been found guilty of many burglaries, and on that particular afternoon he was to go to the courthouse for his sentencing. Early that morning, he had a visit from one of his old friends. His friend brought a Bible and a hymnbook and read from the bible and sang a few hymns. When the visitor left, the guard noticed his friend had given him a cross, which the offender was now wearing around his neck. He questioned the prisoner who said he was a faithful follower of Jesus and the cross reminded him of his Savior. Now the guard had been around this offender long enough to know that he was not religious. 

During the time that he was in jail, the burglar had been mean, vicious and foul mouthed not only to the guards but also to other inmates. He would lie, cheat and steal anything he could get his hands on.   Even at mealtime, he would take food from the plates of others. He kept telling others of the terrible crimes he was going to commit and the wild living he was going to do as soon as he got out. No Christian that the guard had ever known would ever talk and do the things that this jailbird was threatening to do.

So the guard took a closer look at the cross. From a distance it surely looked like a cross, but the closer he examined it the more the bottom of it looked like a handcuff key. The guard confiscated it and after trying it on several different sets of handcuffs and sure enough, he found that the cross opened each and every pair. Naturally, the guard did not return the cross to the prisoner, but he did have his cell searched which turned up many missing articles. Later that day, the inmate went to court where he was sentenced to life in prison.

Unfortunately for the prisoner, rather than seeing the cross as the way of eternal salvation, he saw it as the means of continuing his life of crime. So he remained locked away, a prisoner for life and a captive to sin for all eternity.  Whether inside or outside prison, all people need the cross of Christ because it alone truly sets us free. 

Regrettably, there are many today who think along the lines of that law offender. They focus on their sinful lifestyle and the temporary pleasures it brings.  Even when it comes to their religion, if their worship can help them feel good then surely it must be good.   But if it reminds them of their sins, it brings them down and in their way of thinking, feeling guilt or sorrow is to be avoided at all costs. 

Consequently, there is a constant focus on the short term with no thought given to what is best for both their body and the soul in the long term or even unto eternity. They reject even the thought of confessing their sins or that someone else had to pay for those offenses. Saint Paul speaks regarding these people, “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Philip. 3:18-19)

The word that describes this attitude is Hedonism. To some people, hedonism is their religion and their doctrine is that pleasure or happiness in life is what it is all about. When a hedonist wears a cross, it is to remind them of the pain and suffering they have undergone in their life, not the suffering that Christ went through.  To those whose aim is to experience all that the world has to offer, the cross reminds them to live life to the fullest.  The Roman soldiers had a saying before they went into battle which summarized this way of thinking, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15:32) It is a fitting motto if there is no resurrection.

The Romans had their demands for a plan of salvation that was reasonable, logical, and rational, where the rewards would be given in this life rather than in a life to come. Both Jews and Greeks wanted the wisdom of God to be a proven formula or a step by step process that they could follow to obtain salvation.  They were looking for a key whereby they could set themselves free.

Today many people seek “salvation” in various forms.  Their ‘keys’ come in many shapes and sizes including social justice, “human rights in many forms, even some that go against biblical teachings,” environmental concerns, and new age attainment of inner enlightenment that sets them free. The cross of Jesus Christ will not satisfy those demands.

The cross that leads to freedom and eternal life is uniquely God’s plan. It was and still is a “stumbling block to Jews.” They were looking for a messiah who would be victorious in this life, not a shepherd who would die on a cross for their forgiveness. They would not believe that a dying Shepherd was leading His flock into eternal life. Yet Jesus provided the atonement sacrifice in fulfillment of the Old Testament hope that many Jews throughout the centuries longed for.

  And in addition, the cross was “foolishness to Gentiles.” It went against human reason that God would become a man. It made no sense that God’s plan would call for a totally innocent, totally honest and reputable Person would be crucified for their forgiveness. Even when He hung on that cross, they could not believe that a crucified criminal could be their Savior.

  How many times do you also live as though the Gospel were more of a “stumbling block” or “foolishness” rather than the very power of God for our salvation?  How many times do we do those things that are more pleasurable rather than remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy?  How many times do we chose to be hedonists with our friends rather than carry the cross of Jesus by refraining from sin and refusing to go along with those who do?

Paul said we should not live like them. “Brothers,” he says, “join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”  (Philip. 3:17)  Paul is telling the Philippians to imitate Paul and the disciples as they walk along the path of righteousness by faith. He rejects outright the foolish notion that human righteousness before a perfect God is possible.  Rather Paul was saying that human righteousness makes its own cravings its god and makes them enemies of the true God.

   Paul then tells you and all believers, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philip.” (3:20-21)

Baptized, instructed in the Word, and strengthened by the Sacrament of the Altar, and by the convincing of the Holy Spirit we know that the cross is the “sign” and “wisdom” of God’s salvation. Therefore we lift high that cross and proclaim the love of Christ for the entire world to see.

Especially during the Lenten season, we look upon the cross where we see the body of Jesus; condemned, tortured, beaten, stripped naked and crucified for ours sins. It is a sight the world does not want to see or hear about.  But without seeing the horror of the cross, one cannot fully understand its beauty.  On Easter, those who have seen Jesus die on the cross also see an empty cross that proclaims victory over sin, death and the devil.

It is important that we “Lift High the Cross” as the gruesome symbol of death that it is. The world needs to know just what it cost our Lord to set us free from sin and secure our eternity. They should never be told that our salvation came cheaply. It comes without cost to us, but it was extremely costly to God. The dreadful death of Christ means joyful eternal life to those who know their Savior.

We appear foolish in the eyes of the world when we “Lift High the Cross” in worship, song and lifestyle! Tonight as we are worshiping and singing hymns, others are out in the dark world partying or lusting after the sights and wonders they see on TV. The key that locks one behind the gates of hell is found in the sinful desires of the world. The key that unlocks the gates of heaven for all believers is found in the cross of Jesus. Therefore Christians “Lift High the Cross” of Christ through words and action each and every day as they await His return in power and Glory.

So we wait on our Lord Jesus, standing steadfast in faith, waiting for that glorious day when we will be transformed in both body and soul to live with Him forever and ever, Amen.