For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus 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.
People shed tears over many things. I have shed tears over the loss of my mother. Others shed tears over the closing of a business, or the shattering of a dream to play professional sports due to injury. Kids can seemingly shed tears over the simplest things—like not getting ice cream, having to go to bed early, or not being able to play video games as long as they want.
Jesus shed tears over the loss of his good friend Lazarus, and the impact it had on Mary. And here, the Apostle Paul sheds tears over the souls lost in sin in this world. He really cares about them. He loves them—even the ones who persecute him.
He paints a clear contrast for the Philippians between world-followers and Christ-followers. World-followers:
1) have no hope of glory in eternity—they are destined for destruction.
2) worship what they can consume. They live for and serve pleasure. They make momentary decisions and do not consider the eternal glory or the consequences.
3) flaunt shameful acts and seek glory from others for these acts.
4) focus on accumulating earthly things—cars and boats, positions and titles, even their names on buildings.
But in a sort of rallying cry, Paul reminds the church of their divergent mission and mindset compared to the world.
1) We have an amazing hope in heaven and eternity with God.
2) We wait in expectation for Jesus to come back for us and take us home. It will be glorious!
3) On that day, for the faithful, he will transform our broken, earthly bodies into glorious, heavenly ones.
Praise God! Thank you, Lord, for the ultimate realization of my salvation! It will be so great and rich to dwell with you for all eternity!
