The letter to the church of Philippi, written by the apostle Paul, stands out as a book filled with points of rich encouragement and expressions of pure joy. These themes may seem ironic, since this letter was written by Paul from dank Roman prison. In his writing to this beloved church, Paul discloses the principles and practices that enabled him to continue forward on his journey of faith, no matter the circumstances in which he found himself. He is neither thrown off course nor deterred in his pursuit. Pursuit of what? JESUS!

Paul is perpetually propelled by this singular desire to be as closely united with his Savior and Lord as is humanly possible in this life. He seeks to intimately know Jesus and make Him known. So in this road trip illustration of the letter to the church in Philippi, the journey begins with Jesus and ends with Jesus.

Just as any major roadway has guardrails to keep one from veering off, so too there are guardrails for Paul’s life in Christ as well: the love of God and the kingdom of God.

Fundamentally this journey is a depiction of a love relationship between our Creator and his ransomed creation; Him loving us by sending His Son to live, die and rise again for us, us receiving His love and loving Him back with our worship and obedience. Love from God and for God can’t be contained. It overflows to those around us. “It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may [scrutinize those things that are of eternal value]”(Phil.1:9) Love from God and for God keeps us on the right road. This is one of the guardrails on the journey of faith that keeps him centered. Jude succinctly restates this thought in his letter saying, “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21). 

The other guardrail is the advance of Christ’s kingdom on earth. Despite writing from prison, Paul nevertheless believed that his capture and imprisonment was not an indication that God did not love him. No, the guardrail of God’s unshakable love was securely in place within his heart. Nor did he accept that his circumstances had divorced him from his calling to advance the kingdom of God on earth. He can still write letters (which we continue to be blessed through today) and he can inspire others through his boldness and confidence even as he suffers in shackles. As well,  he can make known to the whole of the Praetorian guard (to whom he is shackled) the gospel of Christ. “I want you to know brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel!” (Phil.1:12-14) As long as he is alive, he knows that there is “fruitful labor” for him by encouraging his fellow brothers and sisters to “strive side by side for the faith of the gospel” and to persevere in doing so himself. (Phil.1:22,27) His journey forward is secured inwardly and propelled outwardly by the love of God and the advance of the gospel.

His progress however can get side-tracked in the rotary of comparison where, instead of looking to Jesus and embracing his unfailing love and focusing his energies on advancing his kingdom, he  looks at himself and others, becoming preoccupied with comparing and competing. Paul sees clearly that “some preach Christ from envy and rivalry”. But getting sucked into comparison is like getting caught in a whirlpool; around and around we go either finding ourselves superior to others (and intent on staying there) or inferior, accelerating to push past the competitors to come out on top. Paul models his experience in the rotary of comparison by refusing to engage with those who would use his circumstance of being in prison as a way to shame him and surpass him in ministry. He doesn’t take the bait. “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” (Phil.1:15-18) In adopting this perspective, he is able to exit the rotary of comparison quickly and continue on his journey.

There are those stretches of road that are terribly rough. In the midst of these stretches of suffering, Paul muses on the life of Jesus, who like him has suffered and been tempted, but even moreso. Only Jesus, in the face of his uniquely rough road, “did not count his equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself taking the form of a servant. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” (Phil.2:5-11) When he encourages the Philippians to have the mind of Christ among themselves, he is speaking from his own experience of coming to know Jesus as the one who understands the roughest of roads. If we look carefully at the rough stretch we are traveling, we can see the tracks of One who has already gone ahead of us. He is entirely qualified and willing to join us in our suffering and to send himself in others to walk with us as well. “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from his love, any affection and sympathy…” know that you are not alone.

Then there is the fuel that we need for this journey. As we pull up to the pump, one says self-serve and another says Spirit-serve. Self serve fuel will suffice for short distances but generally speaking, it gives us poor performance and before long we are completely on empty. The only fuel that can take us the entire distance is that which is supplied by God the Holy Spirit. “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil.2:13) The mindset that depends on our own resources, talents, capabilities and intelligence for fuel will eventually leave us stranded on the side of the road. Paul evaluates his own self-serve, self-sufficient, self-generated fuel and concludes that it is rubbish. Those who worship by the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh are those who go the entire distance.(Phil.3:3)

The temptation to complain in the midst of persecution was present for Paul and for the Philippians. It is no different for us today. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake.”(Phil.1:29)  It is no surprise that persecution and suffering comes. But  Paul writes to remind them that when it does come, to “Do all things without complaining or arguing, (grumbling or questioning) that you may be blameless and innocent children of God in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Phil.2:14,15) As I read this, I am reminded of the laments of the Israelites as they journeyed out of captivity in Egypt toward the Promised Land. It was their complaining and grumbling, arguing and questioning that caused their hearts to turn back toward Egypt and ultimately cost them their entrance into Canaan. Complaining is like taking a U-turn midway through the journey. This takes us away from faith in God’s love and divorces us from his purpose to shine his light through us in a darkened world. Rather, “Rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” The antidote to complaining that safeguards us from its poisonous effect, is to rejoice in the Lord. Again and again he tells them to rejoice so that they bypass the U-turn of complaining.

Paul then discloses his heart motivation for his faith journey. As qualified and competent , as well-educated and well-practiced and zealous as he was in his former life as an elite Pharisee, he places these assets in the loss column, in order that he may gain Christ and be found in him. (Phil.3:8,9) For Paul, this journey is all about Jesus, being found by him, striving to be as united with him as much as is humanly possible in his short life.” Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,” Paul is not going in reverse; he is always moving forward for the sake of the One who has made him His own. (Phil.3:12) Though Paul never actually forgot that he was once a persecutor of the church, he now is a bondslave of Christ. His life is in drive and his foot is on the accelerator.

His goal is not perfection, it is direction toward the person who has clothed him in his own righteousness. If the goal is perfection, we will be tempted to pull over into the rest area of imperfection, refusing to continue on until we are sure that our performance will be faultless. Not so for Paul who acknowledges that he is still in process. “Not that I have already attained this or am already perfect, but I press on” (Phil.3:12) Rather the journey forward may be a daily endeavor of confessing and repenting but still pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil.3:14) And that prize IS Jesus, “that I may know (fully experience) him.” (Phil.3:10)

For guidance when there is a fork in the road, Paul tells the Philippians not to listen to the voice called “Anxiety “ on their internal GPS. This shrieking demanding voice insists that they be fully in control of their destination and that they had better take the correct road or else. Or sometimes the voice of  Anxiety will speak in a downcast, depressive tones, convincing them that their journey is terrifyingly precarious and that they will surely take the wrong road, get lost or worse. So the best course of action is no action. They had best pull off now and call it quits. However there is a different voice on our internal GPS. The way to tune in to this voice is through prayer and petition with thanksgiving. The the voice called “Peace of God” will gently lead us as we drive and at the same time guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.(Phil.4:6,7)

When our minds wander and we become less attentive to our driving, there is a rumble strip of the mind that is intended to wake us up before we veer off the road. Sometimes our minds wander and our eyes are drawn to the neon signs alongside the road. It would be tempting to pull off and gratify some desire at one of these establishments. Do they make false, cheap promises? Are they satisfying needs in a way that cannot be described as pure or lovely or admirable? Do they tempt us to join in critical or judgmental chatter that is anything other than excellent or praiseworthy? “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, we are to meditate on these things and the God of peace will be with us. (Phil.4:8,9)  The rumble strip of these virtues alerts us to evaluate what our minds are tending toward. If those tendencies are left unchecked, they can cause us to drift off course, away from the love of God and the pursuit of more of him and his righteous kingdom. 

Doesn’t everyone need some music for the journey?The radio station to tune in to is the Rejoice in the Lord station. Some of the top hits that it will play are, “Rejoice in the Lord Always and Again I say Rejoice”, “I Pray for You with Joy”, “Yes I will Rejoice”, “I Thank my God” just to name a few. These timeless classics will help the miles roll by.

 The finish line finally comes into view. Paul began his spiritual life with Jesus and he ends with Jesus. What will this final stretch of road be like? For Paul, he has learned a secret, so that no matter the outcome, he can be at peace. “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I have learned the secret of facing hunger and plenty, abundance and need.” (Phil.4:12) No surprise, the secret is, Jesus. “I can do all things through him who strengthens  me.” (Phil.4:13) He has learned that this Jesus who turned his life upside down on a Damascus road, would walk the whole road with him and supply him with all he needed to finish the course marked out for him.

But what is this that he sees beyond the finish line? Home, his true home. Our true home.”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.” (Phil.3:20,21) It was his faith filled anticipation of his final destination that gave Paul hope. It was this vision of being greeted by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who would absorb all his wounds and weaknesses, transforming him to finally be like him and to bask in his glory, that gave him hope. Us too. Our true home awaits and no eye has seen, no ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.

Perhaps as you read this, you can identify with a particular part of the journey. Perhaps you are on rough road, and have been for quite some time. Look for the tracks of Jesus traversing this same difficulty ahead of you. Listen for his comfort and counsel. Find his presence in a companion who will walk with you.

Perhaps you find yourself caught up in the rotary of comparison, with your eyes on those around you. It is particularly difficult to get our eyes off of those who have unfairly gained some advantage. Or perhaps you view those around you as more spiritual, more qualified, more gifted, more competent and in this way it is hard to move forward. What does Jesus see? What does Jesus say about who you are and who they are? What is saying about his love for you and about his purpose for you in advancing his kingdom?

Perhaps you keep filling your tank with more self-serve fuel and find yourself running dry? There is a pump within called Spirit-serve and its supply is inexhaustible. Luke 11:13 states, “how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.”

Ask him to lead you to this pump.

Perhaps you are distracted by the flashing neon signs on the side of the road that tempt you to pull off. Does what they offer pass the test of the rumble strip? Is it true, is it noble, is it right? Is it pure and lovely? Is it admirable and excellent? Will it be praiseworthy?

If it does not meet these criteria, isn’t it best to pass by? The desire and strength to pass by are available through him. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Perhaps you need to find another voice on your internal GPS other than “Anxiety”. There is a voice called Peace. It passes and surpasses understanding given the confusion that is inevitable on this journey. This voice is accessed over and over again through prayer, making your requests known and giving thanks.

The gate is narrow, the road is hard, but the journey is worth it! And the reception at the finish line and beyond defies description. I hope that you will receive encouragement, help and hope to continue on the journey marked out for you, looking to Jesus all the way.