I once ended a friendship because he could never show up on time. I'd sit at coffee shops for well over an hour before he'd saunter in and pretend he was on time. Sometimes two thousand years seems like a good reason to think Jesus is never coming. But Paul knew the first century Philippians were losing hope, too. And so he reminded them: the Lord is near. He's not saying the Lord is physically close. He's saying the Lord is on his way. The trumpet is about to sound. He'll be here soon. A small group at church talked about the evils of this world: political corruption, underfunded schools, even child abuse. We felt defeated. What could the ten of us do about it? And even if we tried, how long could we endure? We weren't seeing what was right over the horizon: Jesus is coming back. But Paul is living with urgency, because he knows the King will be home soon. So he rejoices. His circumstances don't justify joy. But he can't wait to see Jesus. When a watchman sees the first light fall on the eastern hills, he smiles. He can afford to overlook offenses. If yielding means he doesn't get his way, or some losses are never compensated, he can afford the temporary discomfort. In the near future, all this will be forgotten. The King will sort it out. And he isn't worried about the future. He knows the Romans could execute him at any time, but that's outside of his control. Worrying about how long he'll live would distract him from living every day for Jesus. Instead of fighting for his rights and anxiously trying to maneuver his way through life, Paul shares his concerns with God. He's specific and clear, but the ground note is gratitude: thank you for taking care of me. Paul's prayers are wholehearted because he fully trusts God. Jesus has defeated the worst thing that could happen to him. So Paul can trust him with everything else. The net result is a peace that defies understanding. The Philippians lived in a Roman colony defended by a Roman garrison. The point of the guard was to hold the wall. Their presence assured the population: You're safe. Be at peace. Paul says God is guarding your heart. In the thick of battle, Théoden and Aragorn couldn't afford to sleep. But after Gandalf arrived, they could. Jesus has already won the war. He's almost home. You can sleep tonight.