Finishing the Race Well

Would you open your Bibles, please, to Philippians chapter 3. On May 3rd of this year, in the running of the Kentucky Derby for you who are horse-racing fans, you recall how that race ended with the favorite horse winning the race as expected, but the second place horse, a horse by the name of eight bells collapsing at the finish line shortly after finishing the race, both ankles broken and had to be euthanized immediately. That terrible tragedy brought back images of what happened two years ago to probably the best horse in the world at that time, Barbara. Barbara had already won the Kentucky Derby and was going into the pre-knus as heavily favored. I mean, she had run the Kentucky Derby, winning it, just running away from the other horses with the biggest, if I remember right, the biggest victory margin in history in the Kentucky Derby. And everybody expected this is going to be the next triple crown winner. Well, when the three major horse races in this country and a hundred yards into the pre-knus, all of a sudden, the tragedy happened. She shattered her right rear leg. You recall the news stories afterwards of how they tried to save her life and were unable to the gripping tragedy and shock of that incident is captured in this brief news clip from NBC, which happened on the day of the race. Just look at it to get a sense for what was going on back then. One hundred yards into the pre-knus Derby winner, Barbara, has been transported to a hospital in Kenneth Square, Pennsylvania for treatment. Race veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramley says Barbara was right in her ankle was broken in two places. Said his racing career is definitely over, and that the injury is life-threatening. Shocking turn of events for a horse predicted by many to win the triple crown. And it was a shocking turn of events. It was a tragedy for horse racing fans, especially for animal lovers of any kind. It was a terrible tragedy, but there is a worse tragedy. And that is for those who claim to know Jesus Christ as Savior, who get in the race and are running the race, but somehow get distracted or disoriented in the race or tragedy happens in their lives and they don't finish the race well. That is a tragedy of much more infinite proportions. Now, we've been looking at the book of Philippians and we've seen in chapter three that Paul is sharing his own testimony about the centrality of Christ in his life. What Jesus means to him, and he has shared his own testimony of how he came to the conclusion that Christ and Christ alone is the Savior. Christ and Christ alone is the way to heaven, the way to forgiveness of sin. And he said, I came to a point where I counted all of my religious trophies as nothing, just trash for the cause of Christ. And he said, since that time, I've been running this race. Because when I got saved, I got put on a racetrack and I'm headed toward a goal. And that goal is to know Christ better and even to understand how the power of his resurrection can give me the power to live daily life and to have victory over sin. And even if need be, to join in the fellowship of his sufferings and to also understand that when he died, I died. And I'm living a new life now. So he says, I'm on this race and Christ has pointed me toward the goal, which is becoming like him. That's the goal all of us are headed toward. And he says, I'm reaching toward that goal, forgetting both past accomplishments and failures, forgetting what's behind, I'm reaching forward, stressing, straining forward, pressing toward the finish line. I'm in this race, running the race of life for Jesus Christ. And he told us, as we saw last week, that I've not attained perfection yet or Christ's likeness yet. I haven't reached the goal yet. In fact, none of us will reach the goal until we get to heaven and we will fully and finally become like Christ. He continues along those same lines of thought in the verses we look at this morning, in verses 17 through 21 of Philippians 3. He's still thinking about a race. He's still thinking about running the race, but the atmosphere shifts a little bit and the emphasis shifts to finishing the race well, finishing it well. What Paul describes for us in these verses is that there are three important factors that play into running and finishing the race well. The first one is our examples in the race. What Paul is going to say, as we'll see in a moment in verse 17, is that in order to finish the race well, you have to follow the right examples. Here's what he says in verse 17, look at it with me. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. So you see what Paul's saying there? He's saying, he himself, Paul, was an example. He's telling these believers in Philippi, join with others in following my example. He's saying, we're following his word, which means to imitate. He's saying, be an imitator of me. Watch what I'm doing and do that. You can imitate the way I'm living. So be followers, he says, imitators of my example, brothers, and take note. That's a very strong word. It means literally to focus upon. It means to gaze at something, to observe, intently, fix your attention on it so that your gaze does not get off of that. Take note of me and my example. He says, of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. The word patterns and other striking word in this regard of an example. It was a word that was used in the New Testament of an impression made by a blow. If you wanted to make an impression, a lasting, indelible impression of an initial or certain insignia on something. And that impression would be there. So Paul is saying, my life, I understand, is making an impression on people that leaves a lasting mark on them. So take note, observe carefully, gaze at, focus your attention on that mark that I'm leaving. With the impression my life is leaving on yours and follow that, imitate that. Paul said that a lot of times. He's not the only time he said this in his epistles. A number of times Paul said, you can follow me. Look quickly at these verses just to get a feel for the number of times he does this. First Corinthians 4.16. He says, therefore, I urge you to imitate me. First Corinthians 11.1, follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. First Thessalonians 1.6, you became imitators of us and of the Lord in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit. And then you'll see on the screen, 1 Timothy also. He tells Timothy this, here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Paul says, you know, even my terrible past and the fact that I consider myself the worst of sinners ever to have been saved by the grace of God, that in itself is used by God as an example of what the mercy and grace of God can do. And in that line, he challenged Timothy later in this book in 1 Timothy 4.12. He said, don't let anyone look down on you because you're young. But set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. So Paul is quite fond of saying, follow me, be an imitator of me. I'm an example. And that's not an ego trip. That's not come side, some kind of a blown out of proportion, pride of himself. Paul is careful to say, you can follow me only as I follow Jesus Christ. But his point is, I'm a little further down the track than some of you. My goal and purpose and my awareness in life is that I'm setting an example for people behind me. So I'm going to set my gaze, like he's already talked about, on the finish line, and I'm going to strain toward that and press toward that. And as long as I'm headed that direction, you can follow me. You can follow me. One text is where he says, follow me as an example, one whose life makes a lasting impression on others. Paul was an example. And he was very aware of the influences life had on others. But I want to say this morning that you are an example too. Not only was Paul an example, you are an example. Whether you want to be or not, without giving any thought or intent to it at all, you are an example. You are setting a pattern. You are striking a blow that will leave an indelible mark for someone to see. We had two couples up here just a little while ago, both who love the Lord and want the best for their children. They are examples already to those children. Whether or not they want to be, whether or not they realize it to the effect that they should and I believe they probably do. They are examples of those children. And all of us in this room this morning are examples to someone else. Probably most of us can look back and think of specific people that have left that blow on our lives, that left an indelible mark and impression and we followed their example. I think back to my early years of growing up in this church in the example that preacher Jimmy left. And the model that he was for me and continued to be in my years of ministry and I would talk with him and ask him questions just the mark he left on my life. I can remember as a high school student sitting in a high school Sunday school class and Mary Wade was our teacher. Some of you may have been in that class. She was such a passionate teacher and follower of Christ. She made an indelible mark on my life. And I can name some others, some sitting in this room that as a young boy or a teenager I looked up to and I saw you, you were further down the path than I was and I was watching you and you're all watching someone else too and someone is watching you. Whether or not you recognize it, whether or not you intend to be an example, you are an example to someone else. A few years ago Willie Nelson, the country singer, celebrated his 60th birthday. That was actually a few years ago if you look at him now you understand. But anyway, he celebrated his 60th birthday and in attendance at that function was his daughter Paula and he looked at her publicly before this whole crowd said, Paula, you look at everything I do and do exactly the opposite. That's sad. I mean, that's on public record. I'm not sharing any secrets there. I mean, that's sad. It's sad for a parent to have to look back on life and say, I made a mess of everything. Don't do anything like I did it. You are an example to someone regardless of whether or not you want to be. There are other people looking at you, both saved and unsaved people looking at your life. Rick Warren has said there are two major reasons why people are not saved. One is that they have never seen a Christian or second, they have seen a Christian. And he's right on both counts. You know, some people are not saved because they've never really seen a good example of what a believer is. They've been disillusioned. Some have seen examples that are not good. And they've turned away from Christ. I hope that would never be said of anyone here. What a challenge for us as parents, as pastors, youth directors, youth workers, Bible Fellowship teachers, what a challenge it is for Bible Fellowship workers, for day camp leaders, those of you working in day camp this week, high school students, there will be little children there this week looking at you. They're not going to be as much listening to what you say and enjoying the crafts and games and those kinds of things as they're going to be looking at you. You are an example to those children. And then I would say, not only was Paul an example, not only you an example, we all need examples. All of us need examples. And I know the Bible says that we're to look at Christ. I know that the Bible says that we're to look to Him above man. But we all need examples. We all need flesh and blood people who are a step or two ahead of us on the path because sometimes quite honestly, let's be honest, sometimes the goal seems unattainable. Sometimes it seems so far out of reach. I can never get there. But I can't see a guy who's a couple of steps ahead of me and see how he's doing it. And I can see life in him or her. And I can see flesh and blood examples. We all need those kinds of examples. Finishing the race well will depend at least in part on the kind of examples we follow. And I encourage you to follow the right kind of examples. There are all kinds of models out there, especially for students, young adults to follow. There are all kinds of American idols out there. There are all kinds of entertainment and sports heroes. And I'm not saying it's necessarily wrong to follow those people. But only if they are following Christ. Only if they are following Christ. There are examples and models in this church that will far, far outweigh and lead you much further than any hero in this world will ever lead you. Look to those people. Follow them. Note someone who's a little further down the path, down the track, and follow their example. Finishing the race well may depend on the kind of examples you choose. The examples in the race. Secondly, finishing the race well also depends on how we deal with our enemies in the race. And we do have enemies. And they may not be who you're thinking. Our enemies in the race may not be the kind of people that you would think they might be. What Paul is going to warn us about in verses 18 and 19 is don't get sidetracked by the enemies in the race. And there are enemies. Who are they? Who are these enemies? Verse 18. For as I have often told you before, and now say again, even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. They're enemies of the cross of Christ. Just who are these people that Paul's talking about? Well, I think they may exist on either end of a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum, Paul has already talked about some of these enemies in the first part of this chapter. He's talked about what we would call today legalists in his day. They were called judyizers. They were people who thought, it's okay to have faith in Christ if you want that, but you've got to add the mosaic law, too, in order to get saved. So you've got to go through the Jewish rituals and come under the law of Moses and do all these things in order to really make sure you're saved. Well, today it may look a little different, but there are lots of folks who are legalists today in the sense that they say, if you want to have faith in Christ, I mean, that's good. It's a good thing. But you've also got to add this to it. Your baptism, you got to be a member of a church, you got to turn your life around, you got to do this or that or the other before you can be saved. And that's what helps contribute to your salvation. There are lots of people teaching that today. And on the one hand, Paul would warn us against those legalists who are enemies of the cross because the Bible teaches that it is the cross and Jesus' death alone that saves us. Not anything you do or I do. Not any good works or anything we can say, hey, I'm going to chalk this up. I got some merit out of that one. I prayed to this saint or I did this thing or whatever. We can't do any of that kind of stuff that gains us any merit before God. It's only the cross of Christ. Paul said to the Galatians, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. So it is the cross, these people who add things to the death of Christ are enemies of the cross. Watch out for them. But on the other end of the spectrum, and I think the people pay, Paul may be referring to in verse 18 because of the way he describes them in the next verse, and I think Paul's talking about people on the other end of the spectrum. They're not legalists. They're what we would call liberties or Antonomians would be called in Paul's day. There are people who just believe that you can live any way you want to. After all, it doesn't cross set you free from all the restraints of the Old Testament law and you're not under law anymore, you're under grace and so you can just live any way you want to. So there are lots of folks who have swung so far in that extreme that they have no concept of what it means to live a holy life anymore. That means to really walk with Christ and follow His teaching, the teaching of the Word of God, and so they just say, live any way you want to. You know, sometimes churches like ours that believe and teach the Bible are accused of believing in once saved, always saved. Well I believe in eternal security and I believe once you're saved, you're always saved. Justly accused. I believe the Bible teaches that. Usually when people mockingly accuse you of believing that, you know what they're really saying? And I had a pastor friend here in town for years that did not believe in eternal security. We had some interesting conversations about this. And when you really get to the root of what they're saying, this is what they're saying, this is what they react against. They react against people who say, well, I've came forward one day and signed a card and spoke to the preacher and prayed a prayer. I know I'm going to heaven and I don't care how I live. I can live any way I want to. I can drink cuss with the best of the sailors. I can live any way I want to. It'll legitimate children all over the place, you know pornography every night, you know all I, I don't care how I live. I'm going to heaven. I've got a fire insurance policy. We don't believe that. We do not believe that here at Johnson Chapel. The flip side of eternal security is a truth called the perseverance of the saints. And what that means is that if you are truly a believer, if you truly know Jesus as your Savior, your life gets changed. There will be some evidence that you know Christ and you are a Christ follower. You cannot really know Christ and then just go off living however you want to for as long as you want to. Now I understand that a child of God can get out of fellowship with God and can get in life in a real mess. But the Bible says God always chastens His children to bring them back. You can't just live any way you want to and go on the rest of your life just thinking I'm okay. I'm going to get to heaven. No, no. The Bible says if you're saved you will to some degree show evidence in your life of genuine faith in Christ. Jesus Himself said in John 10 in the verses that we often use for eternal security. We forget the verse before the one we usually read. Jesus said in John 10, 27, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. Those are his sheep. And then he said in verse 28 unto them I give eternal life and they shall never be plucked out of my hand and never be plucked out of the Father's hand either. He says in the next verse they shall never perish. Need a shill any man plucked them out of my hand. He says but it's to the sheep. He makes that promise to the sheep who hear his voice and know his name and follow him. So you see if you're genuinely saved it's not a once saved always saved thing like well I made a decision at one time and I know I'm living like the devil and I'm 10 to the rest of my life but I'm going to heaven. No, no. The Bible teaches if you're saved there's a change in your life and those who teach this extreme form of liberty you can live any way you want to. Those are the kind of people Paul's talking about in verses 18 and 19 and he says their enemies are the cross of Christ. Don't let those people get you off track because they will and you'll get off track and you'll get off into all kinds of sinful lifestyle and behavior thinking I'm free in Christ you know do anything I want and that is not what the Bible teaches. So how do these people become the enemies of the cross because they interpret the cross to mean cross did away with the law and the cross did away with all my obligations and so I can just live any way I want to I'm completely free in Christ. That is not at all what the cross does. It does nail the law of Moses and put it away from us so that we're not like Israelites under the law of Moses but we are still the children of a holy father who has requirements about how we should live and expectations about how we should run the race. Now how do these people live? Okay if there are enemies of the cross of Christ this is who they are Paul further describes them by how they live. Verse 19. Here's his description of these enemies of the cross of Christ. He says their destiny is destruction. Let's stop right there. The word destruction is a word which is used in the New Testament of eternal separation from God. He's talking about hell here. Now these are people that may be professing Christians. They may be in a church but because there has never really been any life changing regeneration where they really came to Christ and they accepted him as their Savior and their life is different now. Because there's no evidence of that the Bible says their eternal destination is one of destruction and that simply means eternal separation from God in hell. Now I want to be very clear about this. Being a part of a church and being baptized and looking like you're a Christian will not get you to heaven. There must be a time in your life when you recognized you were a sinner and that the only way you could ever be forgiven of your sin and cleanse and made a child of God was to place your full confidence and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. And when that happens the Bible says new life comes in, the Bible calls it regeneration, new life comes in. You get a new set of desires, you get a new set of ambitions in life and you're not going to be perfect, you're going to be tempted at times and fail all of us to do. But you will have a new direction in life you see. If that's not true of you I think the description fits your end as destruction. But notice the second phrase he explains them by, describes them by, their God is their stomach. Now I got a little convicted when I first read that until I studied a little bit further and understood what it was mean. Now I was thinking this is a real rebuke against us folks who are a little overweight you know but that's not what he's saying. Whose God is their stomach. The stomach was used metaphorically in that day of the appetites of the bodily desires, the desires of the flesh. And while an abuse of the gift of food may be some evidence of that sometimes that's not all Paul's talking about here. Paul is talking about the people who live to serve the God of their fleshly appetites, of their sinful desires. That is what they live for. They live to follow the lusts of the flesh. Their principle aim is to satisfy whatever pleasures of sin they can be involved in. The appetites of the sinful nature. You know Paul was concerned about the Corinthian church on this very count because the Corinthian church was a church that had kind of spurned and turned away and become weary of Paul and his emphasis on holiness because they seemed so gifted because they had so much on the ball they thought they were above those teachings. And so they felt like they could go participate in pagan meals at idle temples and never be concerned about the kind of testimony they were giving their children or other people or the effect they might have on unsafe people. They thought they could indulge in the appetites, whatever came their way. Wealthy people were showing up at meals at the church where then they had observed the Lord's supper with all the evidence of their wealth, indulging in their appetites and having no concern for the poor and needy who couldn't bring anything to the meal. There were people in the church at Corinth who were indulging in sexual conduct that was clearly outside the boundary lines and Paul said even unsafe pagans know that that's wrong but the church at Corinth was taking no action and even tolerating sin in the midst thinking that look at us we have liberty in Christ. We're people that are marked by grace and you know me well enough those of you who've been here to know that one of the hallmarks of my ministry has been of grace not legalistic but there is a point at which people can just throw aside all restraint and begin to say I'll live any way I want to and the standards of God in His Word don't make any difference and when Paul saw a church in Corinth turn in that direction at the end of his last letter to them he said you need to examine yourselves whether or not you're even in the faith. Second Corinthians 13-5 he had begun to wonder whether or not they were genuinely saved and that could be true of people who are in church today it could be that maybe you're just playing the religious game and you've never really trusted Christ. Paul is talking about people who live to fulfill their sinful nature that's what they live for. Is that a characteristic of you? Notice the third characteristic Paul gives of these people their destiny is destruction their God is their stomach their glory is in their shame in other words they boast about things they ought to be ashamed of and they're boasting about these things as though it's a sign of freedom and liberty and maturity in Christ to live any way you want to and the Bible says no there are some expectations God is a holy God yes he's a God of grace but he has some standard in his word about how he wants us to live holy and apart from sin and apart from this world system and then Paul describes him a fourth way their mind is on earthly things he says they're at the end of verse 19 he's not talking about the practical affairs of everyday life you know we all have to be concerned of whether or not our cars running and there's enough food on the table and we're getting to our job on time and things like that those are earthly matters in a sense but he's not talking about that he's talking about their minds their focus is on worldly things and again one of the one of the characteristics of my ministry has to been to biblically define worldliness and some of you've heard this so many times you about gag when you hear I hope you don't but you get close first John 215 and 16 is the biblical description of worldliness it's not how long your hair is it's not it's not you know the list of do's and don'ts that you find in a lot of places this is a biblical description of worldliness John says do not love the world or anything in the world a world system that is opposed to God he's talking about if anyone loves the world the love of the father is not in him now what are you talking about John well he describes it he says for everything in the world and here it is three summary statements three philosophies of life that describe the world the cravings of sinful man the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the father but from the world those three expressions in the middle of that verse are the summary statement of what worldliness is it is the principles by which this world operates the cravings of sinful man with the sinful nature doing anything your sinful nature leads you to do speaking particularly of sensual pleasures or sins outside the boundary lines of God's will in his word and the desire to fulfill those sinful cravings and the lifestyle that does that with no restraint and no conscience about it no conviction of the Holy Spirit that's a mark of the world that's the way the world lives lust of his eyes the word lust here used in the general sense of desire strong desire the strong desire for what your eyes see it's a biblical description of materialism the strong desire to have everything your eyes see and when a person gets caught on that and their whole life is centered around how much I can get to prove I'm a success that's the way the world operates that's the way the world lives that's the way the world functions and then the third the boasting of what he has and does pride the desire to make a name the desire to be number one the desire to be recognized and let everybody know how I reach the top look at me the boasting boasting of what he has and does and look at the signs of my success I'm successful look at me I'm I've arrived that kind of thing that's the way the world operates you see that is worldliness now you may look spit polys clean on the outside and have a worldly heart because you are consumed and live for the cravings of your sinful nature you are consumed with a materialistic mindset and your ambition in life is to get everything you can get and you boast of how you have arrived that you're pride in life that's worldliness my friend that is worldliness and Paul describes these people in Philippians three in the same way their mind is on earthly things they are worldly they live by the world earthly perspectives that we've just seen in first John and if we're not careful those people will become our enemies in the race because they will get our minds off of the finish line and the goal of Christ's likeness and we'll get our mind on other things and we'll start looking at pleasures of sinful nature or we'll start looking at the lust of the eyes and all that I could have or obtain or we'll start living for a name that we could make of ourselves and when we do that we're stumbling off the track we're getting distracted by enemies in the race and we're not keeping our eyes focused on the finish line which is Christ's likeness so if we're going to finish well Paul says keep your eyes on the right examples and watch out for the enemies that will get you distracted in this race but then the third thing he says has to do with our expectation in the race in verses 20 and 21 and remember what our expectation is what the goal is the goal is Christ's likeness we've already seen that in the first part of chapter 3 but what the goal is the finish line is to be like Christ and we've already seen that Paul says I haven't attained that yet and none of us will attain that until these three things happen he's going to talk about here I want to be very clear about this the goal in the Christian life is to be Christ's likeness none of us are going to fully reach that goal until we get to heaven understand that is that clear I want to be very clear on that I don't want to be like Yogi Berra Yogi Berra you know the famous New York Yankees catcher who was well known for making statements that just people scratch their head like what in the world does he mean by that he wrote a book to try to clear that stuff up try to clear his name he wrote a book and he entitled at this the Yogi book I didn't really say everything I said I'm still scratching my head he said this about direction in life you got to be careful if you don't know where you're going because you might not get there I have no idea what that means I don't think anybody else does either he said this one time too he said I knew I was going to take the wrong train so I left early well listen I want to be very clear about the direction we're headed the direction we're headed the goal we're headed toward is Christ's likeness but that Christ's likeness will not be fully recognized until these three things happen our expectation is number one heaven our expectation is heaven look at what Paul says about that in verse 20 but our citizenship is in heaven wow what meaning that would pack for these believers in Philippi remember you may remember if you've been with us since the beginning of this series you may remember that Philippi was a Roman colony they had been made a colony of Rome because an important battle had been won one by the armies of Rome there and so they made Philippi a Roman colony which means everybody in Philippi was a Roman citizen that was a great honor in the Roman Empire it meant that you you were bound to the laws of Rome and you were recognized as a Roman citizen wherever you went in the Roman Empire now most of these people have never seen Rome but they lived under the laws they were governed by the laws of Rome because they were Roman citizens and so what Paul was saying to them would carry special weight with them because what Paul's saying is I know most of you've never seen heaven but that's where your citizenship is you're not citizens of Philippi you're not even citizens of Rome really your citizenship is not really on this earth your citizenship is in heaven that's where our gaze is that's where our focus is in heaven and as we focus on heaven there's something else that catches our attention our expectation verse 21 or verse 20 middle of verse and we eagerly await a savior from there the Lord Jesus Christ and we're not just looking for heaven our expectation also includes the coming of Christ which could happen at any time Jesus could come back at any time that's why Paul says we eagerly await that's a very strong combination of three Greek words one of which means an intense yearning another which means an eager waiting for and another which means to have your attention taken off of everything else and focused on this one thing all of that put together describes how we ought to be looking for Jesus Christ eagerly awaiting his coming you see we're not only looking for heaven we're looking for Christ's coming now I hear this every time we have an election what I'm about to say I hear and it's not limited to election years but there seems to be a rise in this kind of thinking every time we have an election the doomsday prophets come out we were talking about this last night after the wedding and somebody was telling me one of my brothers-in-law who's a missionary in Saint Louis was telling me about some guy who's come out he's been on the radio and I don't remember who it is but some guys come out on the radio saying something big is going to happen Thursday and you're talking about a special messenger that's come from God and the world's coming to an end and these things are going to happen it seems like every election year people start getting fearful of you know if this person's elected then the whole world's going to collapse and the antichrist is coming all that let me tell you something I'm not looking for any signs or antichrist or anybody I'm looking for Jesus to come back and the Bible teaches we shouldn't be looking for signs all the signs of the second coming have to do with Jesus coming after the tribulation time to set up his kingdom those are what the signs of Matthew 24 have to do with they have nothing to do with the rapture the rapture could happen at any time so quit reading news headlines to look for signs look for Jesus to come it's Christ's coming that we're looking for we eagerly away to save you're from there that's what we're looking for it's what our anticipation is on and then thirdly Paul says there's another part of the package here it's not only heaven it's not only Jesus coming that's not only involved in the finish line there's a third thing involved in the finish line that's a perfect body because you see that's a part of the package of being made like Christ we've been talking up to this point mostly about our character being made like is but there's something more look at what he says there in verse 21 who speaking of Christ who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body now what's a lowly body King James even uses the word vile body it doesn't mean impure or sinful body doesn't mean the body is sinful the word really does mean lowly or humiliated our body has been brought into humiliation it is less than it was intended to be when God created Adam he created with a perfect body Adam was the only perfect human Adam and Eve the only perfect humans who've ever lived when they sinned and the curse of God's judgment came upon man and nature this world and upon Satan himself the result part of the result of that curse is that now we have a body that's dying from the moment it's conceived it's headed toward death and there is a certain point at which that body begins to deteriorate some of you are there I mean I am so I can I know you know I said in the other service anybody over 50 knows how that feels and most of them are in that service some of you haven't gotten there yet but you live in a body that's decaying and deteriorating and the older we get the more we realize that the more we feel that the more we see that we understand that but someday we're going to trade it in for a new model and when we cross the finish line we will become Christ like not only in character but also in body we'll have a glorious body like his so watch my dad last night at the wedding and my dad has put up a courageous battle with cancer for over eight years but he's just a shell of what he once was now his body is very weak and frail I pat him on his shoulder now there's no flesh there it's just all bones sticking out and it's just there's just not much left of his body and when I look at him like I did last night I think you know there's coming a day and it may not be very long when he's going to get a new one didn't he Jan it's going to get a new body and all of us who know Christ are we're going to trade this deteriorating decaying dying body in for a new model to be like Christ means that we not only are like him morally and in character we are like him in body we have a glorified resurrected body like his that's part of what it means to cross the finish line now listen my friend I hope I hope you are on the track running the race today you don't get on the track by joining a church or getting baptized or by doing anything good to try to straighten out your own life you get on the track God places you on the track to run the race of the Christian life when you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and place your only hope of heaven and the work Christ did on the cross that's how you get placed on the track but when you get placed on the track God says now you got a ways to go before you reach the end of the line so get running get running and run the race well live your life in such a way that you're looking at some examples you've taken note of you've picked out a couple people in front of you who are a little further down the path down the track and you're watching them and you're following them because they're staying on track they've got their eyes on Jesus do that and then please please I warn you watch out for the enemies whether they are legalists or people who say there's no such thing as holiness in living by godly standards watch out for the enemies of the cross that Paul warns about don't get off track keep your eyes on the finish line with the expectation that someday you will be in heaven Christ will come and you will be in heaven and you'll have a new body and you'll be like him that is the race and my prayer is that each of us will finish the race well that we will not become casualties in the race but we will finish the race well and cross the finish line to the saying of our Lord and Savior well done good and faithful servant that's my hope for every one of you individually and that's my hope for our church let's finish together well this race and someday we'll meet in heaven as we cross the finish line what a wonderful time that will be