PHILIPPIANS 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This verse has a special place in my heart. My wife and I had the verse reference inscribed on our daughter Cathleen’s headstone. Cathleen only lived six hours and died back on 9/11/87. We did not lose a child. We know exactly where she is. And one day when her mom and I get to heaven, she will introduce us to Jesus (rather than the other way around). She is not dead. She is fully alive!

Paul was ready to die for Christ. He was trusting in His all sufficient mercy and grace to release him from prison. But if not, he was ready to die. God did indeed have mercy, and Paul was released after two years of his house arrest imprisonment. Of course, we know Paul was arrested a second time and was martyred sometime in A.D. 66. Paul was ready to live or die for Christ.

APPLICATION

Most, if not all, of you reading this blog today will not have to make the decision to live or die for Christ. What exactly does it mean for us then? What did Paul mean when he said, “to live” and “to die” for Christ? First, Paul says “to live is Christ.” His reason for living was to glorify Christ. Albert Barnes gives four purposes for Paul’s living for Jesus. “1) a purpose to know as much of Christ as it was possible to know, 2) a purpose to imitate Christ, 3) a purpose to make his religion known, as far as possible, among mankind, and 4) it was a purpose to enjoy Christ.”

Then Paul says, “to die is gain.” Now, humanly speaking that makes no sense, does it. We tend to see death as final. We even say someone has “checked out” when they die. But Paul saw it differently. The word “gain” is kerdos and it means a profit or advantage. Paul knew all he had invested in this life would produce a profit – eternal life with Christ. Who could ask for more?

While we are here, we should live every day with a purpose (as Barnes mentioned above). We should seek to glorify the only One worthy of glory. And then when the day comes to “cash in our chips” we should lay it all down without pause. We are about to enter our reward. To live or die – it’s all for Christ!

Father God, give me the courage and peace to live or die for Christ each and every day.