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.

Devotion based on Philippians 3:18,19

The best roads are built with safety in mind. That’s why freeways are normally multi-lane, same-direction thoroughfares without cross-traffic. They’re made as straight as possible; the valleys are raised up, and the hills are made low. The fewer obstacles there are, the better.

If only the road to heaven would be free of every danger! If only there were no twists or turns, ups or downs, no cross traffic. But the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh are not that cooperative. They constantly throw obstacles in the way in a concerted effort to throw us off course. The last thing our spiritual enemies want to see is us arriving home to heaven safe and sound.

And sometimes, those enemies come in ways you wouldn’t suspect. When, for instance, the apostle Paul laments the fact that “many live as enemies of the cross of Christ,” he’s not necessarily referring to people outside the church. Yes, even people who claim to be children of God—faithful followers of Jesus and his Word—too often live as enemies of the cross of Christ. How? By falling into the temptation and promoting the false idea that we should expect our lives as God’s people in this world to be filled with success. They cling to a theology of glory rather than proclaiming a theology of the cross. “Their mind is set on earthly things,” and Paul warns, “Their destiny is destruction.”

We need to watch out for this enemy crossing because we’re all tempted to forget what Jesus made so clear about the life of true discipleship: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mk 8:34). While we may want to think our lives in this world should be filled with one clear victory after another, Paul knew from experience that a Christian’s reward comes not now but in heaven. But what a reward it will be!

Prayer:

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.