Philippians 3:18,19
“For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.”
This is a sad reality. There are those that think they are believers that aren’t. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”
The problem here is that some follow culture over the bible. While God is loving and merciful, He gives us the bible to follow it. It’s His Word to mankind. He gives His children much freedom. However, there are things that are nonnegotiable. He wants us to love, He wants sex to be confined to limits. He doesn’t want us to have idols.
The first problem that Paul addresses is that some are enemies of the cross. This can mean several things. One is that it is the one way of salvation. Some hope to go other ways. However, God’s way was quite expensive. The cross also means denying ones self. Some don’t do that. They are their masters, not God.
Paul’s second point is their end is destruction. If one doesn’t go the way of the cross, they aren’t going God’s way. Hell is their destination. That is the ultimate end. We could also say one’s end would be the result of choices. God gives many blessings to His children as they follow Him. So, also, if one doesn’t go His way, those blessings won’t await him. Quite the opposite. It would be the reaping of sin. The bible’s says it’s death. Not the passing from death to life, but separation from God and His goodness. Resulting in depression, anxiety, addictions, broken relationships and more.
The next problem was their god was their appetite. God instilled in us our appetites and gave us food to enjoy. So, it’s not a problem to enjoy food. But anything can become an idol. Food is no exception. All needs to be subject to Christ. If not, it can become an idol.
Next Paul says their glory is their shame. The odd aspect of the unbeliever is that they call good bad and bad good. They flip the bible on it’s head and change it’s values. Thus they often value things that God says are cursed. They take pride in things God despises. That which they highlight and brag about are things that condemn them.
The last point Paul brings up is that they set their minds on earthly things. This is that which caused them to not follow Christ to begin with. Instead of following the bible, they adhere to the world’s values, earthly things. All is to be subservient to Christ. That’s the other meaning of the cross. Some things we are to deny or crucify the flesh with it’s passions. God has spelled out some things we are to deny. He points out other things that require limits. It might not be a lifetime of denial. It could be temporary, like a fast.
Lord, thank You for redeeming us. Help us to reach those that are lost. Help us to follow Your ways.