A college freshman wanted to please his father by following in his steps. His father had been a star on the track team, so even though the son had no athletic ability, he tried out for track. At the tryout that freshman was put in a two-man race against the fastest returning runner from the previous season. The poor boy got smoked, but when he sat down to write his father a note about the experience, he said, “Dad, you will be happy to know that I was in a race with the fastest guy in school. He came in next to last, and I finished in second place.”
Much of life is about perspective. We can see the glass as half empty or half full. We can view ourselves as losing a two-man race, or as finishing second place. Paul had his ups and downs in life, but he was always able to keep the big picture in mind. We frequently see him beaten and imprisoned for his faithfulness to the Gospel, but he was always able to rejoice because people were being saved, and he knew that was more important than his own comfort in life. In the first chapter of Philippians Paul wrote a classic paragraph, saying he was determined to honor Christ, whether through his life or by his death. He concluded, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (v.21).” Paul said he was hard pressed between the two, having a desire to live his life and share the gospel, but acknowledging that it is “far better” to die and be with the Lord in heaven.
As Christians we find ourselves in that same position. We want to live. We want to watch our grandchildren grow up, and we want to be there for our children. We want to serve in our church and pursue our hobbies. But when this life comes to an end we understand that it is far better for us to be with the Lord. That is why Christians are able to stare down death and never flinch: we have the right perspective. We see the big picture.
In verse nineteen of the same chapter Paul says something that seems a little odd. He said he knew that, “this will turn out for my deliverance.” Many people miss this as an Old Testament quotation because that phrase does not appear in the Hebrew Bible. However, Paul was quoting the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) verbatim, so the Philippians would have understood the reference. The quote comes from Job 13:16, and Paul was identifying with Job.
We know that Job’s suffering was for the glory of God, and Job seemed to have a knowledge of that as well. Although he maintained his innocence, Job’s friends tried to convince him that God was punishing him. His friend Zophar had the nerve to tell Job he was getting off easy, and he actually deserved worse that what he was enduring. In 13:16 Job told Zophar that he knew his suffering would turn out for his deliverance. He knew that God would either deliver him from his suffering by healing his body, or else God would deliver him by taking his spirit to Paradise. Either way, Job was good because he trusted in God.
In the previous verse (v.15) Job seemed to realize that God was behind Job’s suffering, so he said, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” Even if God took Job’s life, Job was going to rejoice because he would go to heaven. Similarly, Paul knew that he may lose his life for the Gospel (he would soon lose his head for the
Gospel), but he was still going to serve God with what time he had left.
That is a good perspective. Paul and Job had the big picture in mind. Many think that death is the worst thing that can ever happen to someone, but when we keep eternity in mind we understand that death has no sting. We do not need to worry or stress about the temporary because we know what is in store in eternity. In the meantime, as long as we are here, there is work for us to do, so let’s keep working for the Lord until He calls us home.
