Philippians 1:21

New International Version (NIV) 

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

For meditation

A life lived without hope and focus, could be risky and deadly. What is the direction of your life and where is it taking you? If you should die today, where will you be? That’s why it’s always best to ask yourself certain hard questions that could bring proper perspective to the way you view and process issues of life. With this in mind, can I incite some life assessment exercise with you this morning?

1. Have you considered your life recently? Have you assessed it in view of death? Does it strike fear and uncertainty in you? Why?
2. Do you know that you can settle that today, even right now, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord (Jn. 1:12-13; Acts 2:38-39; Rm. 10:9-10)?
3. Haven’t you heard that Jesus is the grace of God that brings salvation to all people (Titus 2:11)? Have you thought about why He left His throne above and came into this world? Doesn’t the Hebrews writer reveal that Christ came to us in human likeness, “so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Phil. 2:77; Heb.2:14-15)?
4. So, if Christ Jesus came to the world for this reason, why not accept His gracious offer of eternal life by surrendering your life to Him for salvation? Why don’t you make His victory over death your own and be freed from the burden of sin and the fear of death forever (1 Cor. 15:55-57)?
5. Or, have you trusted Jesus with your life already and are faithfully living for Him? Why then are you fearful of death? Don’t you have the hope of glory in Christ – the assurance of being raptured into His glorious presence for eternal dwelling and inheritance with Him (Col. 1:27; Titus 2:13; 1 Pt. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 2 Cor. 4:14; 1 Thess. 4:15-21)?

I pray you will receive illumination into the profound pronouncement of Paul concerning his earthly life and death: “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). A life lived with this attitude is solid, powerful, and peaceful in Christ. That’s why at the end of His life, Paul could confidently say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (1 Tim. 4:7).

So: May you enjoy the fullness of life Christ has afforded you with much joy (Jn. 10:10); and may you live confidently, while you “look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (Titus 2:13).

The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you, amen!

Shalom