The Bible describes the world in serious terms, terms like darkness. The fallen world is a world of darkness. But what is a mark of darkness? How do you know darkness when you see it? On the flip side, Christians are told they shine in the darkness. But what is a mark of shining? Immediately, we might think of darkness in terms of things like murder, hatred, greed, and sexuality immorality. And that would be accurate. We might think of shining in terms of loving others, being generous with time and money, and sharing the Gospel. And that would be accurate
However, notice how Paul talks about light and darkness in a fundamental way in Phil. 2:14-18. He says Christians live “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation”. We live in a dark world. The paths of the world are not straight and pure but crooked and twisted. In this world, Christians “shine as lights in the world”. Christians are like a lightbulb walking into a prison cell at midnight.
This begs the question though, what makes the world dark world? And what makes a Christian shine? Paul says that we are to be “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish”. Christians are to strive to live righteousness, pure lives (though Paul is well aware we will never be close to sinless in this life). Yet still, what does it look like to be innocent and without blemish? Yes, we know that means to avoid sex before marriage, don’t hurt others, don’t gossip, and the like. But here Paul gives us a more comprehensive, fundamental understanding of what it means to be innocent and pure, which leads to shining.
Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing”. Does this surprise you like it surprises me? Paul says the dark world operates in grumbling and disputing, ultimately against God. This was a significant sin in the life of Israel on their way to the promised land. When we grumble and dispute against God, we are showing we do not trust Him. We think we are wiser than Him and maybe more powerful.
You may think, this is easy for you to say but my life is one of suffering and pain. Yet Paul is writing from prison and writing to a persecuted group of people. In prison Paul is saying, I have no reason to complain against God. He knows what He is doing and he loves me. Paul can think l like because he is doing what you must do to live a life opposite of grumbling. Paul calls us to do all things “holding fast to the word of life”. Remember the Gospel, Paul is saying. Remember that God gave you His only Son, that’s how much He loves you. Are you in prison? It’s not because God doesn’t love you or is withholding from you. If He gave you Jesus, He is not going to withhold anything else you might need.
Christians, you are “children of God”. You have a loving, perfect Father. You are not orphaned and on your own. God is not withholding from you nor is He a killjoy. Literally, quite the opposite. Phil. 2:14-18 is saying the Christian life is one pursuing a life of thankfulness for all the gifts you’ve been given, a life pursuing to live rejoicing in everything.
Hold fast to the Gospel today.
