"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."-Philippians 1:21
Though I’ve been a follower of Christ for almost 13 years I’ve never really grappled with that verse. Much like Philippians 4:13 it’s often thrown about without any real thought as to what it means. Unlike the latter though it is highly unlikely you will ever see Philippians 1:21 on the back of a school sport shirt or something else cliché that misses the point.
To live is Christ, to die is gain. It seems like a simple comment coming from Paul. I believe that it is anything but simple. Coming from the man who said he counts everything as filthy rags compared to knowing Christ I don’t think it can be considered simple. Looking deeper is a necessity. We’ve got to realize what it is he is actually saying. When we do that the verse makes far more sense and becomes a weighty message not an offhanded comment.
Jesus served the Father and carried out His will during his time on Earth so that we might be redeemed and reconciled to God. That obedience meant being beaten and suffering. It ended in a death on a cross and facing the wrath of the Holy God in our place. The beating alone is awful, in America we can’t even handle being mocked for our faith, much less being beaten for professing. But it didn’t stop at a beating so brutal that witnesses weren’t sure if they were looking at an animal or a human when it was finished. He faced the wrath of God in his obedience. He drank the full cup of a punishment we deserve so we wouldn’t have to do so.
In essence I’m trying to say that Jesus’ life wasn’t easy. It wasn’t a life fit for a King. He faced every challenge that we do as humans and trumped them all. There is naught that we experience that he didn’t. There is a reason that Hebrews 4:15 says that we have a high priest that has been tempted in every way we are but without sin. It isn’t because Jesus came and lived a cushioned life in which he was waited on hand and foot. He suffered, but he was obedient. Such is the meaning of ‘to live is Christ’.
It isn’t just a statement it’s a warning and coming from Paul it is heartfelt. On this Earth, as followers of Christ we aren’t promised safety or riches. We are promised security in God but there is not a single place in the Bible that says our lives will be perfect. In fact we are told we will face persecution because Christ himself faced it and we follow him. In America persecution is non-existent. Elsewhere in this world it is a very present situation and yet everywhere it happens the gospel flourishes! People take this to heart, they believe it and they live it. They realize that while they are here if they are obeying God and carrying out his will they will suffer but it is worth it because to carry out his will you must know Him and that is worth far more than anything this world has to offer. We are told our lives will be hard, we are sheep amidst wolves and the wolves are hungry and ready to rend flesh and prey on the insecurities within us so we stop doing the work for which we have been called.
Now to switch gears a little and get into the latter half of the verse. Death is gain. It seems a funny thing to say, dying is good. We usually do everything we can to avoid death. We don’t talk about it and we live safe lives to try and stay alive longer. Bear with me, this isn’t me saying go do something foolish. But to those who follow Christ death is not losing something. It isn’t the end, though Paul compares the Christian life to the race. While death is the end of our life on Earth it is only the beginning of an eternity spent in the presence of God. Death is the beginning of a reward because it allows us to leave behind this world and all its suffering and the pain that comes along with being human. We will be forever in the presence of our God and Maker. We no longer have to keep schedules and fight the chaos of this life as we are locked in a battle with the Devil in spiritual warfare. We can sit at His feet and praise Him with all those who came before us and those who will come after. So death isn’t a bad thing and shouldn’t be looked on as such. We certainly want to live and serve Christ as long as he has for us to do so, but we can’t treat death as if God is punishing us by putting our bodies to rest and calling our souls home to Him until we are given our new bodies to praise Him on a new Earth. Like Paul said death is gain and it’s time we started seeing it as such.
In my opinion this is a verse that allows people to share the gospel in places where death is highly probable for such public professions. They know if they are living and serving God by doing His will they will suffer, and if death comes because of that obedience then so be it, it is a gain. God has considered them worthy enough to serve Him even unto death for the faith they have in Him.
In short;Living in this fallen world for God means suffering for Him. Dying, means an end to that suffering and the beginning of an eternity spent in His presence. I can think of no better reward than that.
