Are We Nearly There Yet?
“Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world, holding forth the word of life so that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Philippians 2:14-16
“Are we nearly there yet?” If you have children, I’m guessing this is something you’ve heard on a long road trip at least once or twice. I know this is something I heard in the car when I was a child – it was inevitable that one of us four children would tire of being stuck in the back of our Peugeot 504 for more hours than we wanted to, especially in a day without smartphones and tablets.
As a kid, you know where you’re going: some fun summer vacation destination or to see grandparents or cousins. Yet, whiling away the hours in drive can be a drag. It takes longer than you want it to, you’re bored, there are only so many yellow cars to spot on the roadway, and you start complaining and whining.
Like children on a long drive, the people of God have often lost sight of the destination and promise given to them by their Heavenly Father. They’ve lowered their sights from the grace and new life in the Gospel and a life lived in humility before God to petty quarrels, arguments and resentments and a life lived at the mercy of our own desires.
Paul blends Old Testament images here to remind the Philippian church to keep its eye on the prize. Live blameless lives, disengage from bickering and dispute. Don’t be like the Israelites at their worst: “a perverse and crooked generation,” (Deuteronomy 32:5) but be wise like the people of God at their best, stars that shine in the world. (Daniel 12:2) In other words, do what children do: bear the image of your Heavenly Parent. Philippians 2:13 tells us it is God Himself who provides both the willingness to change and the strength to do it, so let Him take the driving seat today.
