“For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].” – Philippians 1:21 (AMP)
I love the whole book of Philippians, specially the verses 20-26 of chapter 1. In these verses Paul is talking about a hard and important decision he can make: either to die and be with Christ, or to be alive.
When I was younger I was fascinated by the idea of dying for Christ. I used to say that I am going to die anyway so why not die as a martyr, for the cause of God’s Kingdom? I even used to think “maybe I will be a missionary in the Middle East and one day they will bury me alive” and crazy things like that. But lately God has been showing me another idea about life and death.
Imagine someone you really love, perhaps your child or a brother or sister… I think most of us would die to save this person. Maybe jump in front of a bus to save him or her or do some other fantastic act from a Hollywood movie. It doesn’t even sound too hard or too painful… it will happen in one second, no pain, and we will be forever with God. Now imagine this loved person did something really bad and deserves to go to jail for the rest of his or her life. Would you go to jail in this person’s place? Would you give up your whole life to give this person the oportunity to live freely? It is easier to die for a cause than to live for it.
When Paul wrote this letter he was living a life in which he could actually choose if he wanted to die or not. He was often in prison or persecuted for preaching the Gospel, and a simple “mistake” could define his death sentence. His choices were clear: “But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake.” (v. 23-24)
While our situation in Australia and in many other free countries is different in regards to dying or not, we can choose if our life is Christ or not. Paul knew that the best choice was to leave this horrible world and be with God forever in His Glory, but he also knew that it was necessary for his disciples and for the Kingdom of God that he remained alive. To him being alive meant only one thing: “fruitful service” (v. 22). To him it meant persecution and prison. But he knew that he was living his life not for his own sake, but for the sake of the Church of Jesus Christ.
I don’t know about you, but while there are a few cool things in this world, I HATE this world. It is full of sin, full of rubbish, full of stupid things. I would rather be with Jesus right now. And, in fact, if my heart stops now, I will be with Him, and it will be the happiest day of my life (and this day will never EVER end!). But I am not dead, I am alive, and there is only one reason why God didn’t take me with Him as soon as I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour (considering that living with Him eternally is much better than living here). And the reason is not for me to enjoy my life (I think there is more to enjoy with Him), learn something, or suffer, or anything like that. No no no! The reason is you!
Yes! The reason is you! And by you I mean you and all the other people that God gives me the oportunity to bless. My family. The people that study or work with me. My brothers and sisters in Christ. And the children I have the oportunity to love and bless every weekend at Church.
I am not saying I hate my life. No, of course not! I love my life and I thank God for being alive. I thank God for my job, for the oportunity to be studying at UNSW, for my friends and family… I thank God for many things. But I do NOT live to work and be a succesful engineer or the first in my class. I do NOT live to have a great house, lots of money and many cars. Job, house, car, money and study are NOT reasons for me to be alive. They are all tools that God gives me so I can use them to live for the only reason that matters.
For this reason I exist: to know God and to make Him known. To be His hands, His feet, His heart, His eyes, His LOVE and His presence on Earth! To give everything I can for His Kingdom and for the people He loves. For this reason I say: While I am alive, I will give my everything for the sake of one child.
Cadu
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