“I AM SURE OF THIS!”

 Philippians 1:3-11                      (ESV)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

“[3] I thank my GOD in all my remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. [6] And “I AM SURE OF THIS”, that HE WHO began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of JESUS CHRIST. [7] It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. [8] For GOD is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of CHRIST JESUS. [9] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of CHRIST, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through JESUS CHRIST, to the glory and praise of GOD.”

This “letter” written to the church at Philippi was written from the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned under the authority of Nero, Emperor of the Roman Empire until his death in June of 68 AD.  Paul was in prison, but he wrote “I AM SURE OF THIS” to the Philippian church “that HE WHO began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of JESUS”!  The KJV of Philippians 1:6 begins with “Being CONFIDENT of this very thing”!  The Apostle Paul KNEW that JESUS WOULD COMPLETE HIS WORK, regardless of how bleak the prognosis appeared!

Noting several friends who have lost loved ones and are grieving their “departure” from “this world”, one might consider the “sympathetic” response would be to grieve with them?  However, whenever one removes themselves from the human ties and considers that the WORK of JESUS supersedes ALL, it becomes very clear that the cares of humanity aren’t as important as we might think?  When the doctor spoke the words to my 77 1/2 year old mom that she had breast cancer, my brain couldn’t process that information!  Only 8 months prior my brain had hemorrhaged, very nearly causing death!  She refused treatment and 22 days later left to enter her eternal reward!  Her focus was on where she was going, regardless of what my Brain Damaged mind was dreaming up!  

As stated, Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the church of Philippi from a Roman prison.  One might believe that he would be discouraged and fretful about his immediate future?  He KNEW where he was going and he couldn’t act as though he didn’t!  He understood that ALMIGHTY GOD had a Plan for his life and he was trying to fulfill that Plan whatever it cost!  

The Apostle Paul “probably died sometime around AD 64” around the age of 60, according to some.  He KNEW that he was prepared for what lay ahead of him, just like my mom did, “I AM SURE OF THIS”!!!  The same author who penned the passage of Scripture above also wrote 2 Timothy 4:7 which says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.  Let the same be said of me when my time is completed.  But let me plainly and boldly say on this side of the grave that “I AM SURE OF THIS”, as to where I am headed!