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What's Next? Consider Christ

 What’s next? Surely there can only be one answer.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil. 1:21)

Paul didn’t know what was next for him as he wrote the letter to the Philippians. He had resolved that continuing on this earth to work for people’s progress and joy in the faith was most necessary (Phil. 1:24-25 - notice there that he's considering others and considering need) but he knew that there were two alternatives – life and death (Phil. 1:20-23). Whatever was next for Paul, it was consumed, defined, filled by knowing Christ, having Christ, being found in Christ. 

What’s next?

CHRIST!

Christ the radiance of the glory of God

Christ crowned with glory and honour

Christ our rescuer who has smashed the devil and freed us from slavery

Christ our high priest who carries us on his heart into the presence of God

Christ our great warrior king

Christ who wraps us in his righteous robe

Christ our hiding place from the flood of judgment

Christ our close brother

Christ the bread, the light, the lamb

Christ the bridegroom and lover of your soul

Christ the fountain of life who is your life

Everything we used to think was gain, everything we used to boast in, all our virtue signalling, all our bucket list items ticked off, all our academic and career achievements, all our cultural pride – we count all that as loss and rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Now our great life aim – more than getting the masters, getting the job, getting fit, getting married, even getting into gospel work – our single-minded aim is getting Christ, knowing Christ, longing for his return (Phil. 3:10-21).  

(Which of course is why death is gain for the Christian. If life now is wanting more and more of Christ then in death (or at his return, whichever comes sooner) I get more of Christ, I get to see him face to face and be like him.)

The greatest reality that we can fix our gaze on, the certain reality, the most beautiful reality, the reality that upholds, animates and illuminates all the reality around us, is Christ. Consider Christ (Heb. 3:1; 12:2). Consider his honour, justice, purity, loveliness, excellence, praiseworthiness. That will:

  • Fuel your gospel ministry today and tomorrow and the next day. We are holding out a glorious person to fellow sinners. Let’s get to know that person, enjoy him and so speak of him out of the overflow of our hearts. 
  • Keep you from getting over anxious about decision making as you explore what’s next for you. As we look at Christ we see the glorious one who holds the universe together, who called us to himself, who orders our steps, who walks beside us through the valley, who gives us grace to serve each day, we can know that he will get us where he wants us.
  • Make your paths straight. Fix your eyes on Christ is another way of saying ‘trust in the Lord with all our heart… fear him’  (Prov. 3:5-7). If we fix the eyes of our heart on Christ, as we set our compass to the great North Star, ‘he will make your paths straight.’ Not easy, but straight, right, a single-minded life spent glorifying Christ, enjoying him, maximising our gospel ministry.




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