Warnings are meant to be repeated! The Apostle Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that people were infiltrating the church that had a form of outward godliness, but on the inside, they were filled with selfish ambitions leading to all kinds of immorality. He saw these people as a threat to both the unity of the church and the advancement of the Gospel. We too must be on the “look out” for these kinds of people. They are not the kinds of people struggling in their faith, desiring life-change; instead, they are the kinds of people who use the Gospel to dupe people into believing they love Jesus, while behind the scenes, they are indulging in sin. It's also just as important that we do not become these kinds of people. We’ve all seen churches in the past with leaders who, on the surface, appeared to love the Lord, only to find out later that it was a facade. As a result, churches lose their impact in the community as their reputations are marred. People who trusted these leaders are damaged so badly that they “walk away” from Christ. Nothing good ever comes from sensuality “lived out” in the heart of mankind. It’s not just church leaders who adopt this lifestyle. It’s often the average church member who slips away into self-centeredness. Paul’s answer to this dilemma was to value the coming of Christ more than the compromises of culture. In other words, our purpose is not the “pleasures of sin” but the “purposes of sanctification” – growth in holiness and impact. The ultimate question comes down to this: Am I living for this world or the world to come? Paul challenged the Philippians to stay focused on the future instead of compromising in the present. What will it be for you? You can live for “shallow” or look forward to “special!”
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