By Rev. Larry Thompson,
Pastor Martinsburg Church in Bruin
Imprisoned and sensing that his martyrdom was soon to come, the Apostle Paul penned his letter to the church at Philippi. His letter expressed Paul’s deep love for those in the Philippian church and his personal desire to know his Savior and Lord more deeply than ever before. In Philippians 3:10, Paul writes of Jesus, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
In the time he had left on earth, Paul wanted to experience the all surpassing greatness of knowing and living in Christ. He wanted to know his Jesus as the facilitator of all Creation. He wanted to know his Jesus as the glory of God that placed Moses in the cleft of the rock on Mount Sinai and then covered him with His hand as He passed by. Paul wanted to know his Jesus as the captain of the LORD’s host that stood by Joshua at Jericho and said to him, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy (Joshua 5:15).” Paul wanted to know his Jesus as the Word of God; the Word that was “in the beginning,” the Word that was with God and the Word that was God (John 1:1).”
In his heart, mind, body and soul, Paul wanted to know the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Phil.3:10). When the power of God’s Holy Spirit enveloped the body of Jesus, the forces of hell knew they could not hold Him down! With His glorious resurrection, Jesus destroyed forever the penalty of sin (which is death) and the victory of the grave: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law (works), but God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor.55-57).”
Like Paul, our victory in Christ is sure; we are risen with Him unto everlasting life: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ with God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in Glory (Col.3:1-4).”
Just like Paul, let us all purpose to dedicate ourselves to a journey of life that seeks out the unsearchable riches of Christ. Let us immerse ourselves in the awesome power of His resurrection and know the eternality of our salvation in Him: “And this is the record (testimony), that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:11-12).” Let us rest securely in this promise.