To Live and Die – 3 STORIES of purpose
If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more.
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 1:21 – Contempory English Version
- What are your stories?
- Everyone has one, a STORY that tells WHO YOU ARE.
I suggested in my introduction to our SUMMER STORIES.
Also, I suggested from scripture just a hint of a thought life we will pursue today from the Apostle Paul:
For me, to live is Christ..
I briefly followed the Apostle’s stance in life here which he wrote to the Philippian church. But most every Christian knows there is more to Paul’s heart-felt quote, and that concerning the inevitable time when he will die.
TODAY in our three SUMMER STORIES we will look at this life and death proclamation in hopefully three different stories of three people:
- My story
- Paul’s story
- & (if you are willing) Your story
My story of death and life
About fifty years ago I was born again — born again in the Holy Spirit into a new life in Jesus Christ as my Lord. (You can read about it in some of my other biographical posts.)
The point of my summer story however is that at that same time, spent with our little girl in her delicate preschool years, I was on fire for Christ. My wife and I were inseparable (so I thought) and we treasured all those brief moments like visiting Grandma,dressing her ceramic Mother Goose, and driving to the beach for endless hours of time digging in the sand, running in quick shallow waves and much more.
My summer memories occupied more than just a day or a single moment frozen in time and each facet of life’s light still brings a smile to my countenance and warmth to my heart.
But then, everything changed quickly. Life changed unexpectedly with the same clouded quickness that snatched the light of the beach from the warmth of our days.
“There’s nothing more we can do,” her compassionate doctor told us both… And then in just a brief time… she would die.
We were one, a man and wife (now with a five-year-old daughter.. having lived so long as joyous ones with so much to do in life.. so many loved ones, so many dear friends, so many beloved ones of our church and workplace who made our life in Christ so rich with blessing upon blessing.
Do you believe in the resurrection?
We worshiped every week. God speaks to His chosen ones in the Spirit and through His Very Word in the Bible.
You know some of the Scriptures from funeral services; but have you truly weighed them in light of your own death OR perhaps the even weightier significance of the death of a most-beloved one inseparable from you in life?
“Your brother will rise again.”
.. “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
John 11:23-24 excerpt LSB
I know my beloved one will rise again on the last day.. but will I? Will I?
And knowing that I am in Christ, born again in the Holy Spirit; in all gravity of the moment I worked diligently alongside my brother and pastor to write the witness of her funeral, a celebration of life and certainty of our afterlife.
Jesus said to her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever...
Jesus then asked the deceased Lazarus’ sister Martha, “Do you believe this?”
So in truth, I confidently agree with Martha’s own response to JESUS at the death of Jesus’ friend and her brother, Lazarus.
“Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the One who comes into the world.”
Even as one who worships God, IF you have not read 'the rest of the story' we hear so often a funerals, you might take a moment to READ this Good News from the Apostle John once more.
Paul’s story .. to die is gain.
The Apostle, of course, was sent out to Philippi and the gentile world by the risen Christ Jesus, in Person even after the Lord’s ascension! Saul of Tarsus could well have been rightfully struck down by the risen Lord Jesus on that road to Damascus; but rather JESUS had other plans for the forgiven Jew of Jews, that chief of sinners.
As the young protege of a leading Jewish rabbi he had also witnessed the triumphant death of Stephen in the AD 30’s. Paul’s missions had first brought the Apostle to Philippi in the AD 40’s. Philippi was an important ROMAN city and in addition to being a Jew, Paul held the unique privilege of being a Roman citizen. The Apostle to the Greeks loved these fellow Romans living in a city Alexander the Great named for his father, Philipp of Macedon in Hellenist Macedonia.
Paul had been beaten, run out of several towns, left for dead, and pursued relentlessly by men avowed to execute him. Yet the Apostle continues to build the Church in city after city on the foundation of Christ Jesus, providing continued support in finances, preaching, leadership, love and prayer.
The Apostle writes his Epistle to the Philippians, along with letters to several other churches while under house arrest in Rome in the early AD 60’s. Paul has been leading ‘The Way’ of Christ-followers through the gentile world for some fifteen years (of thirty since Stephen’s death.
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
We won't study the Apostle's letter in full here, but do note the context of our focus with thoughts on life and death from the beloved Apostle to the Gentiles.
Although various translations of Philippians help us, we will use excerpts from the ESV.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, …
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
The Apostle Paul would be executed in Rome by the Caesar Nero about six years later.
What is YOUR STORY of death and life?
One Christian teaching Q & A for new believers begins:
What is the chief end of man?
source:
Man’ s chief end is to glorify God,
and to enjoy him for ever.
Eternal life, including that everlasting time after our mortal time has ended, matters. It mattered to Paul, which is why the Apostle proclaims, “to die is gain.” And you can see by his heart and witness that those near to him in Philippi drove Paul’s purpose until the finish of his race.
I might add that eternity with loved ones, those who have died and many yet to depart, encourage me to live in Christ to what measure this failing flesh is capable.
HOW do YOU glorify GOD now?
Won’t you encourage us with YOUR STORY of how you ‘enjoy him today.. and for ever?
Talk of JESUS .com
Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
Leave a Reply