When someone we love is sick, we do everything we can to keep them alive. When our efforts fail, we feel pain. Their absence is noticeable. The loss hurts.
But what did the apostle Paul say about living and dying?
Memorize This Week
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
Philippians 1:21-22
You Don’t Lose
Even as believers, when death strikes its blow, we cringe in pain.
But . . . we also know that death doesn’t get the final word.
Paul knew that. He was so confident in Jesus that he lost any fear of death. He went so far as to say that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
As we memorize Philippians 1:21-22 this week, may we also grow in our confidence that whether we live or whether we die, we are victorious because we are in Christ. We can’t lose either way. It’s all a win.
We cling so hard to this life. And often it’s because there are things we still want to do and experience. But when we focus on what eternity with God will be like – we can’t even imagine all the joys! I need that reminder that time on this earth is about fruitful labor for him, not just my desires, and heaven will be more wonderful than we can imagine.
Great commentary, Barbara. I definitely feel that pull both directions. There are days when I’d rather just leave all this behind and go be directly in Jesus’s presence, but there are so many people here that I do not want to leave. I’m glad it’s all in God’s hands and not my own.