Live = Christ  |  Die = Gain

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (NKJV).

A dear friend of mine passed away recently.

He was a special man, with many titles including; missionary, radiographer, radio broadcaster, pastor, probation officer, manager, gifted musician, photographer enthusiast, preacher, theologian and wordsmith.  But most notable were references made of him: a gentleman, a beautiful man, a mentor, a gentle soul with a heart for people and a God-honouring man who rejoiced in God’s word, ‘like one who finds great treasure’.

I can only say Amen, to all those descriptions of him.  In 20 plus years of friendship those things about him never changed.

We do the best we can to comfort those of his family left behind, but words, though so very important to be said, are only limited.

Times like these bring into focus the reality of life and death.  It also brings back to the forefront of our minds a very important truth.  That God made a way for us to live with Him, forever!  The whole reason for Jesus Christ coming to earth, His crucifixion, death on the Cross, burial, resurrection and ascension, was to bring us…, to the Father…, to live in His presence forever!

The pain of the passing of a loved one, can be eased with the sure knowledge that the one we loved is now in His presence.  The life they lived and the choices we saw evidenced by their lives, gives us this assurance.

Paul says “… For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain…”  He was writing this letter from prison.  Yet he had come to a place where his priority and purpose was to be Christlike, in this life and in the next.  Even his red-hot passion for spreading the Gospel and his love and care of the churches, became secondary to his passion to be like Christ.  (See Philippians 3:12-14).

He knew that life on earth — remember he’s in prison — meant profitable labour, and death — whenever it came — meant he would at last be with his Saviour.

The power of our problems too often hides the wonder of the truth of Heaven!  When did you last hear a sermon on Heaven?  And yet for those who chose to receive the forgiveness Christ freely offers and the confidence of living with The Father for eternity, that is where we’re headed!

The passing of a loved one is immensely painful.  The relationship that one had in the sphere of family and close friends is broken.  The beauty, the joy, the growth, the benefit of that relationship is no more.  Grief is very real.

Yet the Father of all life, would encourage us today, that, as Paul said, “to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”.

While we live, we have Christ!  He is with us and for us in the midst of all the earthly things that occupy us.  The decisions, the pressures, the stress, the sicknesses, the demands, the pain and purpose of life — He is with us in all of them!

Paul was in prison, and for him, “to live”, meant a moment by moment relationship, where he was strengthened and encouraged and empowered to live out his early purpose in the midst of pressure and pain.

“To die — is gain”.  Death for the Christian is a promotion!  It is being released from earthly things, and transported to Heaven, where Christ is, and where we will be with Him and The Father forever and ever and ever!

My friend’s passing has reminded me of these things.

Be encouraged.  Allow the Holy Spirit to give you a picture of your Christian loved ones in Heaven.  Let the Holy Spirit encourage you as you serve Him while temporarily on earth.  Let’s tell our story and “His” story so that others also may know of Heaven.

Let’s press on with a higher call than knowing our earthly purpose as fantastic as that revelation is — to that of growing into and knowing a greater Christ-likeness. Ready and eager to be with the Lord in His presence, “lost in wonder love and grace”.

Let’s balance the burdens of life with the wonder of His Word; “to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”.