Title Philemon 01-08 The Fugitive of Life
Contents
mon 1-8 / life's fugitive
In a family without children after a long time of marriage, they made a vow to God, saying, “If you allow children, I will give them to God.” After some time I had a child. But when I gave birth, it turned out to be a son. As this child grew up, he showed signs of genius. He was the top of the class at school, and he had the leadership to lead his colleagues.
As the child grew older, parents began to think differently. I thought, ‘Isn’t it better for God to have my son go to medical school and become a doctor!’ I sent my son to medical school, and everything went smoothly. But what is this? My son went insane overnight. Even if he was crazy, he wasn't usually crazy, so he would take off his clothes and run out naked in broad daylight. One day, too, when the mother saw her older son running out naked, she said, “God, God, your servant is running! Hold on to your servant!” they shout and follow.
When do they forsake their vows to God because of their desires and send them to medical school? Obviously people can't believe it. Isn't it human to seek 'God' when in a hurry and follow 'self-greed' as if when things got better? This is the spiritual fugitive.
There are many stories of fugitives in the Bible. Perhaps it is because Adam and Eve, the first humans, set a precedent for escaping even when they disobeyed God's command. ‘Adam and Eve’ broke their promise to God and fled from the presence of God in fear and hid in the grass.
'Jacob' who fled far away after deceiving his father and his twin brother Esau and hijacked the blessing; 'Moses' who fled to the wilderness to avoid King Pharaoh's retaliation; 'Jeremiah' who fled from the burden of preaching God's punishment 'David' who ran away from the danger of death due to King Saul's hostility, 'Elijah' the prophet who fled to the brook Cherith to avoid the blade of Queen Jezebel, and 'Disciples of Jesus' who fled to Galilee to avoid persecution and death by the Jews.
What these fugitives have in common is that they all met God in such a crisis and received a calling. It is clear that God has a special interest in the fugitive. Because those who run away from people and the environment are eager to find refuge and new support.
Among these fugitives is ‘Onesimus’, the main character of the text. Onesimus was a slave to Philemon. It is not known why Onesimus fled Philemon's house, but he lived in Rome after he did. Then, for some reason, he was imprisoned in a Roman prison. There, Onesimus meets the “Apostle Paul,” who was imprisoned while preaching the gospel. Through meeting with Paul, Onesimus also met Jesus Christ. In Colossians 4:9, Paul calls Onesimus a “faithful and beloved brother.”
Paul felt it was time to make the fugitive Onesimus a free man recognized by his master. Philemon, the owner of Onesimus, also received the gospel by Paul and was now a friend (verse 17). Paul wrote and sent Onesimus a letter of endorsement along with his current status. That letter is this book of Philemon.
In the movie we know well called 'Quo Vadis', we can see Jesus meeting 'Peter' fleeing from Rome where persecution is severe and sending him back to Rome. God often transforms people who have escaped from something and sends them back to where they fled as a new caller.
The fugitives of life find no peace anywhere.
Onesimus was a slave in the house of Philemon. Philemon was a rich man living in Colossae. He came to believe in Jesus Christ through the apostle Paul, and his whole family became devout believers. And his house was used as a church and became Paul's supporter of evangelism (Phm 1-2).
At that time, Palestine and all of Europe recognized slavery. At that time, Christians also owned slaves, but the treatment of slaves was different from that of ordinary people. In general, slaves were the property of their masters, and they had the power to buy, sell or kill slaves. However, for some reason, Onesimus, a slave of Billimon, ran away. It also ran away and stole the owner's money or property.
Onesimus' escape was from himself. While he was at Philemon's house, he could not escape his slavery. He ran away from everything he knew. Towards freedom and a comfortable life. However, Onesimus was eventually recaptured and confined to a worse environment than before.
Those who have been caught by God have no place to escape. See Psalm 139:7-11. “Where shall I go from thy spirit, and where shall I flee before thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell, you are there. Even if I spread the wings of the dawn and dwell at the edge of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, and your right hand will uphold me. Even if I say, Darkness surely covers me, and the light that surrounds me becomes night, but darkness cannot hide it from you, and the night shines like the day, for to you darkness and light are common.” confess that.
Moses, Jonah, and Jeremiah all tried to run away from God because God's commands were burdensome and disliked, but they could never escape. Listen to Jeremiah's confession. Jeremiah 20:9. “If I say that I will no longer declare the Lord, nor speak by his name,” he said, “my heart burns like a fire, my marrow burns, and I can’t stand it.” Those who depart from God's command will never have peace, either physically or spiritually. Peace is only possible in God. The Lord says in John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. What I give to you is not as the world gives. Let not your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”
Are you not a fugitive running away from God's command? If so, listen carefully to the following words.
God never gives up.
God's will for life is clear. In Numbers 23:19, it says, “God is not a man, so he is not ignorant; he is not a son of man, so that he has no regrets. How can you not do what he has said or put into practice what he has said?” In Isaiah 55:11, “The words that go out of my mouth do not return to me in vain, but accomplish my will, and prosper in the work that I sent out. I will,” he said.
Onesimus, a fugitive of his life, committed a crime even in Rome and was imprisoned, and he was in a moment of despair that he might die. But God gave him a chance. It was through meeting the apostle Paul. Paul was sent to Rome after the third missionary trip. The last road in his life, the trip to Rome, is called the Fourth Missionary Journey. Paul preached the gospel to Onesimus in a Roman prison just before his martyrdom, and Onesimus accepted the gospel.
That's right. God never gives up and gives us a chance, even in the moments of despair in life. When you as a human can no longer do it, God intervenes. Because of human cunning. Humans are arrogant beings who show themselves when they have a little break. So God is waiting for Himself to collapse.
Onesimus became a new creature the moment he met Jesus Christ. He so desperately wanted to break free from his identity, he was set free in Jesus Christ. This is exactly what 1 Corinthians 15:22 says. “For as in Adam all died, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” And in John 8:36, he said, “Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will truly be free.”
Jesus makes a useless life a worthwhile life, and a useless life useful. Do you want your life to shine and be worthwhile? Meet Jesus Christ. And entrust your whole life to Him. Then you will see your life anew and realize how valuable you are. We are the treasures of God who died for us and gained life. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 tells us that we are precious beings that contain the light of the glory of the precious God.
If you refuse repeatedly in spite of God's constant call, the chastisement that will make your life miserable will continue. Why? Because God never gives up. Therefore, if you think that God has called you, immediately give up your stubbornness. That's the only way to be less fit and to be more happy.
God guided Onesimus's steps for life, freedom, and happiness. Onesimus obeyed God's call. As a result, he received not only the freedom he wanted, but also happiness as a servant of God.
God's calls and requests are communicated through the Word and through our hearts. If the thought of “what to do” is constantly given in your heart, and that thought is based on the Word, it is a call and request of God. If you continue to ignore God's call, that thought will be dimmed, but instead, the discipline of your life will increase.
We must not forget that obedience, like Onesimus, can lead to happiness, but like the prophet Jonah or Judas Iscariot, it can lead to suffering and destruction. I bless you, wise men, that by obedience you may find happiness in the Lord to your heart's content.