Keep on Keeping on
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose,”
Philippians 2:12b-13
Now, some of you have been church going people for a long time. You were present in worship with your mom who attended regularly while pregnant; as soon as you were ready for Sunday school, you were taken to church by your faithful parents; you later were required to attend BYTU (Baptist Youth Training Union) or as it was called in my neighborhood, BTU (Baptist Training Union) on Sunday evenings; then when you went off to college or off on your own, your parents and maybe your grandparents monitored your attendance by asking and questioning your Sunday attendance. So many of you I presume have been going to church more years than you want me to remind you of this morning. Some of you have served the Lord in good and not so good times. Since you have become an adult and can do as you please you have made it a custom to assemble for weekly worship on a regular and recurring basis with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Your commitment to this ministry for the Lord is unquestionable by those who know you best. I speak now from a fair number of years as watchman on the wall, pastor here at PCC. I have been blessed by Almighty God for 29 years to teach, preach, and serve here in this vineyard along with you and your families for which I’m most thankful to Almighty God.
So you have been church going people all these years because
you were taken by your parents, sent, or you saw the need and desired to obey
God and to be here for worship with your brothers and sisters. Perhaps Paul’s
letter was addressed to Christians at
First, he identifies the special relationship he has with these brothers and sisters. What an appellation! “My dear friends” It is clear from his use of this appellation that he had a lot of warmth in his heart for his brothers and sisters in the Lord. I believe this same warmth and expression of love should characterize the relationship between all of God’s people. Can you say, “My dear friends” in the Lord and mean it from the bottom of your heart? I believe it is fine to say, “My dear friends” since all of us are specially connected through the blood of Christ.
What a boost in spirit these Christians must have felt to hear these words from the Apostle Paul. He was indeed special to them. They loved him. They respected him. They cared for his needs. So to hear him say that they are his dear friends must have been a boost to them in their service and ministry.
Second, he complements their conduct. You have always obeyed. Not only in my presence but more so in my absence. What a wonderful complement! There are undoubtedly many things that Christians in ministry can be complimented for doing, but I think living so you can be complimented because of your good Christian conduct is the best compliment you can get. Conduct is a problem in most of our churches today. It is unfortunate to read again and again in the Plain Dealer of church groups that are misbehaving in one way or another. And many times their unchristian conduct is outright embarrassing to all of Christianity.
I must tell you that it hurts me to read about children being abused in our churches by its leaders; it hurts me to read about church members in a dog fight with their pastors; and I don’t care who is at fault or not at fault. It still hurts to read and to hear about such unchristian conduct. Here Paul compliments his dear friends on their conduct and behavior.
Third, he commands them to continue to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. I am pleased to read that they continued to work out their salvation. But let me hasten to say that Paul is not commanding them to do good works so they can be saved. Oh, no. He is not talking about “works” in the sense of earning one’s salvation. No human can do any works to save themselves. This is not within the reach of any human. It is a work that only God Almighty can do. No one is without sin; and the only way to be saved is to be without sin. Only God’s son met this requirement.
Paul wants Christians to work out their salvation. Dr. Alistair Begg says, “We are not to work for it or to work it up, but to work it out; i.e., to ensure that its influence and implications permeate the whole of our lives.” Jac J. Mueller says, “To “work out” one’s own eternal welfare or salvation does not mean that man can or must work and accomplish it himself, for God does that; but that the believer must finish, must carry to conclusion, must apply to its fullest consequences what is already given by God in principle.” Now, the old folks in the church said it this way, “If you have got good religion, then you ought to show some sign.” In other words, you are to be busy being a Christian. You should be self motivated to do what Christians are to do day in and day out. You shouldn’t need anyone to remind you on Sundays that you need to be in worship; you shouldn’t need anyone to hold your hand for you to behave and do the right thing. You shouldn’t need anyone to tell you to watch your mouth. You are a child of God. You know what is right and Christian. You are motivated to do God’s work.
The doctors encourage us to work out regularly and to work up a sweat. We are encouraged and counseled to get our heart rate up to the target level that is appropriate for our age and condition. Well, I believe Paul is telling us as God’s people that we need to work out our salvation by doing something. We need to get busy and stay business. I keep saying to people from the pulpit that the church is no place to be a spectator. You are needed in the pool. This is a pool of believers looking and praying for those who desire to work out their own salvation. You are needed in the pasture. You are needed in ministry now. You need to be self motivated. You need to be committed. You need to keep striving for spiritual maturity. Clearly this is the best work out you can engage in as you go through this life.
This work out is to be done with fear and trembling. We need to recognize that this is a serious work. It is only God Almighty who saves us from our sins. We need to remember that we are sinners. We are undone. We are guilty as charged. We need to remember the words of the songwriter: “There is none righteous, no not one.” We need to remember the Scriptures, “All we like sheep have gone astray’ we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid upon him the iniquity of us all.”
Finally, Paul wants his dear friends to realize that God is with them. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose,” verse 13. I want to share a story of how God works within us that will make this point clear I believe:
Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit, "Keep playing." Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato (Not to be left out; indispensable) Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played, only the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing." May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.
Source: unknown
I encourage you to keep on keeping on. God knows and understands. It will all be over before you know it. And we will see that there is eternal value our keep on keeping on. Amen.