For the first part of this series, click here.
For the second part of this series, click here.
Read Philippians 1:18-26.
Need: Before you continue reading, check out this article and video from 2010 about why humans can't walk straight.
Question: Why are you here? What are you doing here? Why on earth are you on earth?
That question has been on human lips and minds since we were created. Humans want to know, what are we doing here? What is the purpose of all of this? We have always refused to believe that there is no purpose to all of this. Even nihilists, those who claim to believe there is no purpose to life, don’t live like it!
We want purpose, we desire intentionality, we desire meaning to life. I believe even that desire to have purpose proves we have a purpose. We have food to satisfy hunger, drink to satisfy thirst, and love to satisfy loneliness. The longing for something proves that something exists. So our continual and constant longing for purpose is proof that we have a purpose.
Think of purpose as the Sun or Moon or mountaintop as that video explained. It keeps us grounded and walking straight. It gives us a reference point for everything else we experience. Science has proven that humans can’t walk straight without a fixed point. Similarly, humans can’t live straight without a purpose.
This is a grave need and one we must take very seriously. It runs rampant in all levels and sectors of society. We need purpose, and we need a good one. So the question before is this...
Question: What purpose does the Gospel offer?
If you find yourself forgiven and renewed by the grace of God, then what are you doing here? Does the Gospel just transform our legal standing with God and then allow us to wander through the rest of life? What purpose does the Gospel offer?
All me to clarify this word purpose. I am not talking about goals. I am not talking about dreams or ambitions. I am talking about even the purpose of goals and dreams and ambitions. What purpose does the Gospel offer?
We find a similar question on the first line of the Westminster Catechism, a famous and founding document for the Reformed tradition: What is the chief end of man? So borrowing language from the Westminster Catechism, it is my prayer that you walk out of here today knowing this...
Truth: The Gospel gives us the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever (read that again).
This is fantastic! To know the whole purpose of man is to know a treasure! Praise God that He has given us this knowledge and not left us to wander.
There are two ways to be a runner. First, just describe yourself as a runner. Be a runner. Second, run. Actually do running, and that makes you a runner. We call this difference description and prescription. So today, as we look at our purpose found in the Gospel, we will look at descriptively, what it already and actually is, and take joy in that. Then we will look at it prescriptively, how to actually go about purposing our lives for glorifying Christ.
Description:
First, descriptively. For this, we use this fantastic text from Philippians. It might be familiar to you. If you have been a Christian for a while, you have no doubt heard Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” So there’s a danger of this verse sounding old and used to you. But I pray God will awaken you afresh to the glories of this text.
To get at the heart of what Paul is saying, we need to first look at some backstory. We are going to look at the founding of the Church of Philippi to get a feel for whom Paul is writing to. In this way, I believe we find some of the options the world offers for life purpose.
I. Here Are Your Options
The Church of Philippi was founded on Paul’s second missionary journey throughout Asia Minor, what we now call Turkey and Greece. Philippi was a bustling trade city founded because of nearby gold mines. It became a Roman colony about 50 years before Jesus came onto the scene and it enjoyed all the wonderful rights of being a Roman city. Then comes Paul and Silas, preaching the Gospel.
Their first encounter is found in Acts 16:11-15. They meet Lydia. We don’t know too much about Lydia, but here’s what we can gather. She was a worshiper of God, meaning she was a Jew. She was some sort of fashionista, selling purple goods to royalty, which no doubt made her quite a profit. She had a house in Thyatira and Philippi. And her house in Philippi was large. Lydia is our example of those who purpose in life to go after money and materials.
She had it all. She represents a large portion of Americans, even many who don’t admit it. This little piece of paper has ruled so much of our lives. It has become the purpose of many students and many adults. Maybe it’s not so much the paper, but it’s the car or the house, the travel, the fashion, the ability to show off to others. How many weeks have you had where it just seems like your entire purpose every minute of the week is either to make money or to sleep so you can wake up and make more money?
But then Lydia hears the Gospel and dedicates all of her being to worshipping God and all her wealth to advancing the Church.
The second encounter is found in Acts 16:16-18. After meeting Lydia and staying in her house, Paul and Silas meet a young slave girl who has powers of divination, fortune-telling. She represents those who purpose their lives to feeling and pleasure. Very different from Lydia, this slave girl is not chasing after money or things, but instead is chasing after worship of feeling.
She represents another large portion of our society. This is called hedonism, those who chase after pleasure as the purpose of life. Just be as happy as you can. Maybe that’s sex, the next high, love, pain, or even just dulling the sadness. We often purpose our lives to just being happy outside of Christ.
Don’t hear me wrong. Part of our purpose is to enjoy God. There is plenty of joy in our Gospel-given purpose. In fact there’s joy unmatchable. But some purpose their lives to chase simple temporary happiness found outside of Christ. And one young girl from Philippi, who was doing this, experienced the saving power of God’s grace and turned to the Gospel.
Finally, our third encounter that marked the beginning of the Church of Philippi is found in Acts 16:25-34. After Paul and Silas rescue this slave girl from her demon possession, they are beaten and thrown in jail. Their first night there, an earthquake breaks open their doors on their cells. The jailer runs in and is terrified for his life because he fears his prisoners have escaped.
We don’t know much about the Philippian jailer, but we do know some. Philippi was a very popular spot for Roman army retirees. Most likely, this jailer came back from serving in the Roman army and took an easy post as a jailer. He represents those who purpose their lives toward duty and progress. He represents those who find their purpose in their job or civic duty, who find their purpose in the progress and advancement of society. This is not the purpose of Christ!
But Paul and Silas did not escape. They were still in their cell singing praises to God. And so the Philippians jailer converts to Christianity.
And so begins the Church of Philippi. This is what Paul knew of his brothers and sisters in Philippi. He understands these purposes they have devoted their lives to. He stayed in Lydia’s luxurious house and interacted with the fortune-telling girl and witnessed the duty and devotion of the jailer. And he sits down to write them a letter years later and he says, all of that, is bankrupt. All those purposes offered by the world are nothing! “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That is purpose.
II. To Live Is Christ
I understand I am writing to many who have been Christians all your lives. And I know you’ve heard this verse before. And if I took a poll, probably all of you would no doubt agree, “Absolutely, to live is Christ, for sure.” But I have found that the conviction that fuels that affirmation, to live is Christ, ebbs and flows. But Paul here says he has seen all of those purposes the world offers and they are bankrupt, they are nothing, to live IS Christ.
Hear me, everyone one of us is everyday being seduced and discipled on what life is all about by every commercial, every movie, every sitcom, every magazine. It all screams to us that life is all about comfort and happiness and progress. But Paul has seen that, he’s tried that, and through divinely inspired words tells us that TO LIVE IS CHRIST.
Allow me to use an illustration that might get to the heart of how our purpose in life is not always Christ. Often, we look at our lives as a ladder. A ladder of priorities. And good Christians obviously can say that God is number one priority. He gets the top rung. But that creates so many problems. Why? Because sometimes we just go from the bottom rung to the second rung and then back to the bottom rung, then maybe to the third, then back to the second, and we never let our number one priority into our lives. Or maybe its the other way around. We prioritize God and so we think, well, I prayed and read some Scripture this morning first thing, or I started my week off with God at church and so I can check that rung off and move onto everything else. No! That is not what to live is Christ looks like!
Can I suggest an alternative? To live is Christ means our lives look more like a wagon wheel. Christ is at the center and Christ is the wheel. And all those spokes represent our priorities in life. Everything we do revolves around Christ. It begins with Christ and ends in Christ. Christ is the alpha and omega of our lives. This is radical stuff! But it is what Paul pictured when he said that to live is Christ.
What I would like to do is now that you have heard the conviction with which Paul claimed “To live is Christ,” I want us to listen to some Scripture passages that Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to fulfill His purpose of to live is Christ. Don’t tune this out, don’t turn your mind off because you’ve heard these before. Listen to the Word of God and let it mold your life.
Doxologies:
Romans 11:33, 36- Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
I Timothy 1:17- Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I Timothy 6:15-16- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21- May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
II Peter 3:18- But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Revelation 5:12-13- Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!
Revelation 7:12- Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!
III. To Die Is Gain
As you all know, “To live is Christ” is not the entire verse. Paul finishes with the crazy words, “to die is gain.” Many Biblical scholars believe Philippians was a prison letter, meaning Paul was sitting in a prison cell, writing this letter, not sure if he was going to be executed the next day. Please imagine this and listen to what Paul is saying. He’s saying, well, they might kill me tomorrow and I’m not sure if I’m excited about it or not. I wanna live so I can glorify Christ, but I also wanna die so I can be with Christ. “I am hard pressed between the two.”
What has the Gospel done to Paul?! He can honestly and genuinely say, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Ravi Zacharias says that, “How could you threaten Lazarus after he had been raised from the dead? What would you say to him that would intimidate him? Could you pull him aside and be like, ‘Hey man, you’re gonna get yourself killed.’ Would he giggle? Okay, I’ve actually been there and done that.”
The reason the apostle Paul had to be one of the most effective and yet frustrating missionaries the world has ever known is because you couldn’t do anything to him. Right? You lock him up in prison and he’s converting the imperial guards. You beat him and he’s excited about it, “This is future glory!” He’s singing songs down in the stocks; could you imagine how frustrating that would be? Torturing a brother and he’s singing and converting prisoners. "We’re gonna let you live." To live is Christ. "We’re gonna kill you." To die is gain. You couldn’t touch this man.
Hear this, dying as gain proves that living is Christ. Here’s how:
All life purposes outside the Gospel are thwarted by death. (Repeat). Is life about money? Can’t take it to the grave. Is life about pleasure? It’s gonna end when you’re dead. Is life about being healthy? If you’re dead, you’re about as unhealthy as possible. Is it about preservation of the species? Your death works against that because that means one of your species has died. Death works against every purpose found outside of Christ.
But if life is all about glorifying Christ, that is the only purpose that death cannot conquer. When we live on earth, we glorify Christ. When we die, we glorify Christ all the more! Death cannot stop it. So if you’re death is gain, you know your life purpose is true. To live is Christ and to die is gain.
Prescription:
Now that we have seen what life is all about descriptively, we have seen the purpose of life from this passage in Philippians, that to live is Christ, now I want to move onto prescription. That is, how can we purpose our lives to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?
Check out Hebrews 12:1-2. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Following the faith chapter of Hebrews 11, this passage reiterates the beautiful Gospel and connects it to how we purpose our lives. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” It takes what we know of Jesus, as our captain, our leader, our guide, and it says, now look to him. This is similar to when Paul says, to live is Christ. Now, we don’t know who authored the book of Hebrews, but we know from what they have written that Christ is their all in all. The great chief of the faith, the perfect sacrifice. So when they say let us run, they have Christ continually in their minds.
We are so easily distracted. It is so hard to simply focus on the Word of God when we have no grounding in our purpose to glorify Christ. The author of Hebrews says, throw off every weight and every sin. Get rid of those distractions. And then turn away from all of that and fix, lock, focus your eyes on Christ. It’s as simple as that. To live is Christ, so fix your eyes upon him.
Conclusion: Remember the video? Are you wandering? Are you going through life blindfolded by these silly purposes the world has offered? Why? I mean, this is it. One time here on earth and then it’s over. What is your purpose?
Take the blindfold off, fix your eyes on Christ as your purpose. Make everything you do and everything you are all about Christ. It is the most satisfying and enjoyable purpose there is. And as such, it is the most glorifying to God. To live is Christ, to die is gain.
Amen.
That question has been on human lips and minds since we were created. Humans want to know, what are we doing here? What is the purpose of all of this? We have always refused to believe that there is no purpose to all of this. Even nihilists, those who claim to believe there is no purpose to life, don’t live like it!
We want purpose, we desire intentionality, we desire meaning to life. I believe even that desire to have purpose proves we have a purpose. We have food to satisfy hunger, drink to satisfy thirst, and love to satisfy loneliness. The longing for something proves that something exists. So our continual and constant longing for purpose is proof that we have a purpose.
Think of purpose as the Sun or Moon or mountaintop as that video explained. It keeps us grounded and walking straight. It gives us a reference point for everything else we experience. Science has proven that humans can’t walk straight without a fixed point. Similarly, humans can’t live straight without a purpose.
This is a grave need and one we must take very seriously. It runs rampant in all levels and sectors of society. We need purpose, and we need a good one. So the question before is this...
Question: What purpose does the Gospel offer?
If you find yourself forgiven and renewed by the grace of God, then what are you doing here? Does the Gospel just transform our legal standing with God and then allow us to wander through the rest of life? What purpose does the Gospel offer?
All me to clarify this word purpose. I am not talking about goals. I am not talking about dreams or ambitions. I am talking about even the purpose of goals and dreams and ambitions. What purpose does the Gospel offer?
We find a similar question on the first line of the Westminster Catechism, a famous and founding document for the Reformed tradition: What is the chief end of man? So borrowing language from the Westminster Catechism, it is my prayer that you walk out of here today knowing this...
Truth: The Gospel gives us the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever (read that again).
This is fantastic! To know the whole purpose of man is to know a treasure! Praise God that He has given us this knowledge and not left us to wander.
There are two ways to be a runner. First, just describe yourself as a runner. Be a runner. Second, run. Actually do running, and that makes you a runner. We call this difference description and prescription. So today, as we look at our purpose found in the Gospel, we will look at descriptively, what it already and actually is, and take joy in that. Then we will look at it prescriptively, how to actually go about purposing our lives for glorifying Christ.
Description:
First, descriptively. For this, we use this fantastic text from Philippians. It might be familiar to you. If you have been a Christian for a while, you have no doubt heard Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” So there’s a danger of this verse sounding old and used to you. But I pray God will awaken you afresh to the glories of this text.
To get at the heart of what Paul is saying, we need to first look at some backstory. We are going to look at the founding of the Church of Philippi to get a feel for whom Paul is writing to. In this way, I believe we find some of the options the world offers for life purpose.
I. Here Are Your Options
The Church of Philippi was founded on Paul’s second missionary journey throughout Asia Minor, what we now call Turkey and Greece. Philippi was a bustling trade city founded because of nearby gold mines. It became a Roman colony about 50 years before Jesus came onto the scene and it enjoyed all the wonderful rights of being a Roman city. Then comes Paul and Silas, preaching the Gospel.
Their first encounter is found in Acts 16:11-15. They meet Lydia. We don’t know too much about Lydia, but here’s what we can gather. She was a worshiper of God, meaning she was a Jew. She was some sort of fashionista, selling purple goods to royalty, which no doubt made her quite a profit. She had a house in Thyatira and Philippi. And her house in Philippi was large. Lydia is our example of those who purpose in life to go after money and materials.
She had it all. She represents a large portion of Americans, even many who don’t admit it. This little piece of paper has ruled so much of our lives. It has become the purpose of many students and many adults. Maybe it’s not so much the paper, but it’s the car or the house, the travel, the fashion, the ability to show off to others. How many weeks have you had where it just seems like your entire purpose every minute of the week is either to make money or to sleep so you can wake up and make more money?
But then Lydia hears the Gospel and dedicates all of her being to worshipping God and all her wealth to advancing the Church.
The second encounter is found in Acts 16:16-18. After meeting Lydia and staying in her house, Paul and Silas meet a young slave girl who has powers of divination, fortune-telling. She represents those who purpose their lives to feeling and pleasure. Very different from Lydia, this slave girl is not chasing after money or things, but instead is chasing after worship of feeling.
She represents another large portion of our society. This is called hedonism, those who chase after pleasure as the purpose of life. Just be as happy as you can. Maybe that’s sex, the next high, love, pain, or even just dulling the sadness. We often purpose our lives to just being happy outside of Christ.
Don’t hear me wrong. Part of our purpose is to enjoy God. There is plenty of joy in our Gospel-given purpose. In fact there’s joy unmatchable. But some purpose their lives to chase simple temporary happiness found outside of Christ. And one young girl from Philippi, who was doing this, experienced the saving power of God’s grace and turned to the Gospel.
Finally, our third encounter that marked the beginning of the Church of Philippi is found in Acts 16:25-34. After Paul and Silas rescue this slave girl from her demon possession, they are beaten and thrown in jail. Their first night there, an earthquake breaks open their doors on their cells. The jailer runs in and is terrified for his life because he fears his prisoners have escaped.
We don’t know much about the Philippian jailer, but we do know some. Philippi was a very popular spot for Roman army retirees. Most likely, this jailer came back from serving in the Roman army and took an easy post as a jailer. He represents those who purpose their lives toward duty and progress. He represents those who find their purpose in their job or civic duty, who find their purpose in the progress and advancement of society. This is not the purpose of Christ!
But Paul and Silas did not escape. They were still in their cell singing praises to God. And so the Philippians jailer converts to Christianity.
And so begins the Church of Philippi. This is what Paul knew of his brothers and sisters in Philippi. He understands these purposes they have devoted their lives to. He stayed in Lydia’s luxurious house and interacted with the fortune-telling girl and witnessed the duty and devotion of the jailer. And he sits down to write them a letter years later and he says, all of that, is bankrupt. All those purposes offered by the world are nothing! “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That is purpose.
II. To Live Is Christ
I understand I am writing to many who have been Christians all your lives. And I know you’ve heard this verse before. And if I took a poll, probably all of you would no doubt agree, “Absolutely, to live is Christ, for sure.” But I have found that the conviction that fuels that affirmation, to live is Christ, ebbs and flows. But Paul here says he has seen all of those purposes the world offers and they are bankrupt, they are nothing, to live IS Christ.
Hear me, everyone one of us is everyday being seduced and discipled on what life is all about by every commercial, every movie, every sitcom, every magazine. It all screams to us that life is all about comfort and happiness and progress. But Paul has seen that, he’s tried that, and through divinely inspired words tells us that TO LIVE IS CHRIST.
Allow me to use an illustration that might get to the heart of how our purpose in life is not always Christ. Often, we look at our lives as a ladder. A ladder of priorities. And good Christians obviously can say that God is number one priority. He gets the top rung. But that creates so many problems. Why? Because sometimes we just go from the bottom rung to the second rung and then back to the bottom rung, then maybe to the third, then back to the second, and we never let our number one priority into our lives. Or maybe its the other way around. We prioritize God and so we think, well, I prayed and read some Scripture this morning first thing, or I started my week off with God at church and so I can check that rung off and move onto everything else. No! That is not what to live is Christ looks like!
Can I suggest an alternative? To live is Christ means our lives look more like a wagon wheel. Christ is at the center and Christ is the wheel. And all those spokes represent our priorities in life. Everything we do revolves around Christ. It begins with Christ and ends in Christ. Christ is the alpha and omega of our lives. This is radical stuff! But it is what Paul pictured when he said that to live is Christ.
What I would like to do is now that you have heard the conviction with which Paul claimed “To live is Christ,” I want us to listen to some Scripture passages that Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to fulfill His purpose of to live is Christ. Don’t tune this out, don’t turn your mind off because you’ve heard these before. Listen to the Word of God and let it mold your life.
Doxologies:
Romans 11:33, 36- Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
I Timothy 1:17- Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I Timothy 6:15-16- God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21- May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
II Peter 3:18- But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Revelation 5:12-13- Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!
Revelation 7:12- Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!
III. To Die Is Gain
As you all know, “To live is Christ” is not the entire verse. Paul finishes with the crazy words, “to die is gain.” Many Biblical scholars believe Philippians was a prison letter, meaning Paul was sitting in a prison cell, writing this letter, not sure if he was going to be executed the next day. Please imagine this and listen to what Paul is saying. He’s saying, well, they might kill me tomorrow and I’m not sure if I’m excited about it or not. I wanna live so I can glorify Christ, but I also wanna die so I can be with Christ. “I am hard pressed between the two.”
What has the Gospel done to Paul?! He can honestly and genuinely say, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Ravi Zacharias says that, “How could you threaten Lazarus after he had been raised from the dead? What would you say to him that would intimidate him? Could you pull him aside and be like, ‘Hey man, you’re gonna get yourself killed.’ Would he giggle? Okay, I’ve actually been there and done that.”
The reason the apostle Paul had to be one of the most effective and yet frustrating missionaries the world has ever known is because you couldn’t do anything to him. Right? You lock him up in prison and he’s converting the imperial guards. You beat him and he’s excited about it, “This is future glory!” He’s singing songs down in the stocks; could you imagine how frustrating that would be? Torturing a brother and he’s singing and converting prisoners. "We’re gonna let you live." To live is Christ. "We’re gonna kill you." To die is gain. You couldn’t touch this man.
Hear this, dying as gain proves that living is Christ. Here’s how:
All life purposes outside the Gospel are thwarted by death. (Repeat). Is life about money? Can’t take it to the grave. Is life about pleasure? It’s gonna end when you’re dead. Is life about being healthy? If you’re dead, you’re about as unhealthy as possible. Is it about preservation of the species? Your death works against that because that means one of your species has died. Death works against every purpose found outside of Christ.
But if life is all about glorifying Christ, that is the only purpose that death cannot conquer. When we live on earth, we glorify Christ. When we die, we glorify Christ all the more! Death cannot stop it. So if you’re death is gain, you know your life purpose is true. To live is Christ and to die is gain.
Prescription:
Now that we have seen what life is all about descriptively, we have seen the purpose of life from this passage in Philippians, that to live is Christ, now I want to move onto prescription. That is, how can we purpose our lives to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?
Check out Hebrews 12:1-2. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Following the faith chapter of Hebrews 11, this passage reiterates the beautiful Gospel and connects it to how we purpose our lives. “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” It takes what we know of Jesus, as our captain, our leader, our guide, and it says, now look to him. This is similar to when Paul says, to live is Christ. Now, we don’t know who authored the book of Hebrews, but we know from what they have written that Christ is their all in all. The great chief of the faith, the perfect sacrifice. So when they say let us run, they have Christ continually in their minds.
We are so easily distracted. It is so hard to simply focus on the Word of God when we have no grounding in our purpose to glorify Christ. The author of Hebrews says, throw off every weight and every sin. Get rid of those distractions. And then turn away from all of that and fix, lock, focus your eyes on Christ. It’s as simple as that. To live is Christ, so fix your eyes upon him.
Conclusion: Remember the video? Are you wandering? Are you going through life blindfolded by these silly purposes the world has offered? Why? I mean, this is it. One time here on earth and then it’s over. What is your purpose?
Take the blindfold off, fix your eyes on Christ as your purpose. Make everything you do and everything you are all about Christ. It is the most satisfying and enjoyable purpose there is. And as such, it is the most glorifying to God. To live is Christ, to die is gain.
Amen.
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