μιμούνται: pronounced mimoúntai a Greek word used to suggest imitation or mimicking.
Imitating what?
The question is raised throughout our lives... What are we here for?
What is life really about?
Because really life is a question in itself.
Breathing.
Drinking.
Eating.
All of these are necessary for life... but what really is it about?
The very things that keep us alive are usually what causes our demise... our lungs fail, our liver fails, our kidneys, digestive system all eventually fail to work because they have been constantly working, without rest, since they were first originally formed.
If what is necessary to continue life, eventually ends life... why live?
What is the point of this very existence.
Philosophers, scientists, historians, religious leaders all strive to answer this root question.
And yet they all have answers that seem to contradict each other.
So how do we ever answer this?
I suggest the answer is to ask another question...
What are YOU living FOR?
Some people live for the moment, but I find that Ecclesiastes warns us about that kind of living:
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.
All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them. (Ecc. 1:1-10)
Because what joy does it bring? It's sporadic moments of happiness, or pleasure, and then we feel drained, or have to deal with the consequences of our actions... most of the time they aren't necessarily good.
Living for specific moments of feelings isn't the joy Paul talks about in Philippians 4...
'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.' (Phil. 4:4-7, 10-13)
People live for things... such as family, work, or the next buzz from their drug of choice... for me it's coffee... I LOVE coffee. But do we ever stop to realize how ridiculous it is to run your entire life around another person, or an object, or the rich, amazing taste of an iced caramel coffee?
Or maybe for you it's tobacco... or alcohol, or drugs.
Maybe it's pornography.
Maybe it's shopping.
Maybe it's...something other than God.
Those feelings, those needs, those desires, come and go. They fade.
And yet the 21st Century has ushered in the most materialistic society the world has ever seen.
We have fast food... that we complain about if it takes longer than 2 minutes to finish the order.
We have 4G internet and cell phone service.
WI-FI
Movies on-demand.
Redbox.
Netflix.
E-books.
Credit cards.
We get what we want... when we want it.
Patience has taken on a whole new meaning than it used to.
So we're still faced with the question What are we living for?
Everything we could live for... is meaningless. It fades.
Paul gives us more advice in Philippians 3:
'I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 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.' (Phillip 3:12b-21)
Beyond the warnings of gluttony and pride that the passage warns about, because living for food, and living for your own name recognition doesn't do anyone any good. Neither are fulfilling.
We need to take our mind off of earthly things... and follow the example set up by Paul and the Apostles.
Mentoring.
Pastoral ministering and counseling.
Accountability.
Imitating the mindset and actions of Jesus.
Mimicking the lifestyle of Paul.
Read the passage again.
'I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 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.'
Paul is calling us to live for something more than ourselves... bigger than ourselves... bigger than our world... bigger than our lifestyle... Something Bigger.
Godliness.
The lifestyle of imitating God.
Pursuing God.
It's like a race.
'Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.' -1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Runners don't try to run a marathon on the spur of the moment. They train. Runners don't carry extra baggage or weight when running. Their focus is on the finish, the goal. They shake off whatever would hinder them. They sweat. They put forth effort. Likewise, we as Christians aren't expected to just try and be good. We were called to be free. We can't live like Jesus by accident. Living this lifestyle of imitating God doesn't continue by mistake. We have to desire holiness. We have to want to fight against the sinful nature. Salvation is free. Jesus has already fought that battle, paid that price, and rose up victorious. It's over. It's finished. But sanctification takes work. Living life on purpose. Living life intentionally for a reason, a hope, a faith in what will not fade, will not pass away... takes all of our sweat, our tears, our pains, and all of our effort. Jesus never promised an easy way of life. He didn't live, and he certainly didn't die easily. If our goal is to imitate Him... why would it be any different for us?
God doesn't sit in heaven with a giant check list of our sins, failures, and mistakes. He's not making a list... and he's not checking it twice. He already knows... and He has already forgot. Christians are free from sin. Free.
We are free.
We hear that phrase a lot in church.
How often do we really let that sink in?
We are free.
Freedom doesn't mean we can live however we want. Freedom needs to be fought for. As long as we fight... we will always be on the victorious side... it's when we stop fighting that we fall. God still demands obedience, and he has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His promise to never leave us. We can live obediently... we are free to do so.
Our lives are the best proof that His kingdom is real.
'Preach the Gospel, if necessary use words.'
If we were to boil all of this down... Jesus asks us to be like Him.
That's a pretty radical minimum standard. And we would want it no other way. What draws us to Christ is His way of life. His presence. His being. His character.
We are Christ to those who do not know Christ.
How are we doing?
Jesus commanded in the Sermon on the Mount:
'Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.' (Matthew 5:48)
How are we doing?
'Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.' -1 Timothy 4:7-10
'But godliness with contentment is great gain.' -1 Timothy 6:6
'I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus' -1 Timothy 2:1-5
What are we living for?
What is life really about?
I'd say it's about Him.
Didn't Jesus say He was the Way, the truth, and the life?
Life.
What are we living Jesus for?
Are we?
What is Jesus really about?
Now THAT is a question worth asking... because as soon as you answer THAT question... the sooner you can begin living the way of Christ.
"Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."
