Sermon 8th October 2023 – 19th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Philippians 3:4b-14 –
True treasure in heaven
Two teams played off last week
to determine who was the Premiership Club in the AFL. A week earlier both clubs
were ecstatic to have made the achievement of playing in the Grand Final. But
there can only be one winner- the honour cannot be shared. I’ve always thought
that it actually feels better to have not made the Grand Final than to compete
in the Grand Final and lose. It’s like coming 2nd in the Olympics. You don’t
focus on the fact that you’re the 2nd best in the world in that sport or in the
competition but rather you feel that coming 2nd is losing. It’s interesting how
quickly success can turn into seeming failure. But that’s the fickle nature of
success – it doesn’t last and only lasts as long as your next defeat.
That’s why Paul when he
reviews his life, despite all the accolades he received he regarded them all as
rubbish compared to what knowing Jesus has given to him. Paul is speaking to
his former colleagues who were perhaps trying to belittle Paul by revealing
what he had thrown away because of his insane idea of becoming a Christian. His
fellow Jews, particularly the Pharisees couldn’t understand why Paul would
throw away his future for this group of people who were spreading a rumour that
their leader, Jesus of Nazareth, rose from the dead. What a ludicrous idea to
throw away your life for. In fact, the Romans thought this of Paul also:
When Paul was giving his
defense before the Romans he said: Some Jews seized me in the temple courts and
tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and
testify to small and great alike.
I am saying nothing beyond
what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer
and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to
his own people and to the Gentiles.” At this point Festus, one of the Roman
leaders, interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he
shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
Maybe some of your friends, or
even family, have thought that you’re crazy spending all this time, energy and
even money on this crazy idea of Jesus rising from the dead. Maybe you’ve had
the opportunity to stand up for your faith but was afraid of what people might
think. We all know what the media and general public think of Christianity. But
that should never deter us. And remember what Jesus once said – if they hate
you, remember they hated me first. In fact Jesus said that we are blessed if we
are persecuted because of our faith: Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same
way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Which is what Jesus is
describing in his parable today:
A landowner sent his servants
to collect the harvest for him. But they beat and killed them. He sent more
servants – and they did the same. Then the landowner sent his own son believing
they would listen to him. But they didn’t and killed him also. We have here the
short history of Israel and God sending his prophets to urge them to return to
God. But they didn’t listen. Now this parable was specifically written for
Jesus’ time to explain God’s never give up attitude to saving humanity despite
what we did to his prophets and what we did to his own Son. And that never give
up love for humanity continues today. Despite the rejection of God’s church
-the mocking – the attempts to close down the church – God never gives up on
saving humankind.
Remember, it was WHILE we were
yet sinners that Christ died for us.
And that is the understanding
that we need to have towards the salvation of humankind. Some religions will
issue threats and even death warrants if you dare disrespect their god and
prophets. But God calls on us to turn the other cheek – to love our enemies and
pray for those who persecute us. To go and do likewise as the Good Samaritan
who stopped to help him enemy who had been hurt, at his own time and expense,
rather than rejoice over his pain. Paul was even willing to give up his own
salvation if it meant salvation for his people.
He says, in Romans 9 - With
Christ as my witness, I speak the truth. My conscience and the Holy Spirit
confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my
people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut
off from Christ!—if that would save them. Not only do successes only last a
brief moment but so does our hurts and rejections. They only last for this
lifetime and not in eternal life where nothing evil can exist. But sometimes we
allow them to keep affecting our lives and keep hurting us. That’s why Paul
says - forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ
Jesus.
Yes Paul gave up a lot when he
became a Christian – but he gain immeasurably more. As Paul says - For I
consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The message Paul is trying to
convey is value what is truly valuable. Everything else is passing or as
Solomon says – he says everything is vanity - There is no remembrance of former
things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. But what will
not pass away is God who is eternal. And he has prepared a home in heaven for
us that no one can take away. It’s waiting there for us which is why Paul says
– to live is Christ, to die is gain.
If you come 2nd in life – or
even if you don’t even get picked for the team. If you never achieve the
accolades or possessions that others have. Remember what Paul says - I regard
everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord. Even if you are mocked or ridiculed because of your faith, remember –
great is your reward in heaven.
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