The Destination is More Important than the Starting Point

Every society is faced with people at all levels of progress. It might be wealth, education, status, or even faith, but across every society we are never all at the same place in our development. For some that news can be comforting. For others, the same truth can be the cause of great frustration. Can you guess which?

For those ‘further back’ on the progress measurement, the starting point creates frustration. The destination can seem so far off that we are tempted to give up even trying. No matter how far back we are, we can all admit the destination is what really matters. Where we are going is much more important than where we began.

Brethren, our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself.  Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.  I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 3:20-21;4:1-3

As Christians, our destination is heaven. In this reading from Saint Paul, referring to our commonwealth he is referring to our homeland. Our time on earth is a temporary journey until we return home to God in heaven. We are sojourners in a foreign land, and as such, we must not become too entranced with our surroundings.

If the world in which we live were our final destination, we would have no need of a savior. We are held captive by sin and temptation, until we get rescued by God. He will change us to be like Him, so don’t become too attached to the fallen world.

This faith allowed countless saints, martyrs and confessors, to stand firm against the tyranny of persecution. This faith is what will allow us to do the same. If we hold on to what is now, we will not focus on what is to come, heaven and salvation. In the meantime, help each other as Saint Paul urges in this reading, to agree in the Lord. Together we can stand firm. Alone we will perish.

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