To Live is Christ

Philippians 1:21-22,24-25 2:5-8

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There’s this tension that we live in as Christians where we know that our future with Christ, that heaven, that the resurrection is going to be better and we look forward to that day. But then the tension arises with how do we then see today? Because doesn’t God want us to embrace today? Well, yeah. But then what about how we need to be focused on eternity? How do we grapple with the two of those things? How do we understand that?

Well, the apostle Paul actually talks about this in the book of Philippians. In the first chapter of Philippians, he talks about this, the struggle, because life is really challenging for him at the time. And he can really see. And it’s really clear to him how being with Jesus is going to be better. But then he also talks about what’s in front of him here with this life. And he says in verse 21 of chapter one of Philippians,

Yes, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

I think for me from that statement, the easier part to understand is to die is gain, Because with that statement, we have this assurance that because Jesus died for our sins and rose again, we’re right with God and we have the hope of being with Jesus where there’s no more sin, no more pain, no more suffering, no more death. We can see how that’s game. That’s better. But what does it mean to say that to live is Christ? What is that about? Well, if you go ahead to chapter two of Philippians, there’s something there that’s really helpful. Paul says,

Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

What does that all mean? Well, the Son of God could have stayed in the comforts of heaven, but he and his Father had a plan to rescue us. And so God the Son took on human flesh and lived in this world, and laid down his life because he had a job to do. Because in obedience to His father and love for us, he came to live and to die and to rise again for us. He came for us. So instead of holding on to the comforts of heaven, he embraced the difficulties of this world because he had a special job to do. That’s what it means to live as Christ. Heaven will be better. Paradise with Jesus will be better. But God has us here because he has a job for us to do.

If you go back to chapter one, Paul, after saying, for me to live as Christ and to die is gain, he goes on to say,

But if I am to go on living in the flesh, that will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet which should I prefer? I do not know. But, it is more necessary for your sake that I remain in the flesh. And since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you, for your progress and joy in the faith. (Philippians 1:22,24-25)

Paul recognized that God had some work for him to do, and I want you to hear this clearly today, especially to if you’ve ever struggled with thoughts of maybe my life should just come to an end. Or if you ever know anyone who wrestles with those sort of thoughts. That right now God has said, okay, if you’re going to ask the question, what’s better for me to be here right now in this place or to be in heaven? You know what God’s answer is in this moment? It’s better for you to be here. Otherwise you would already be in heaven. That means you must have something pretty important to do. Pretty significant.

Now, we often we forget that and we get focused on ourselves. But whenever that happens, whenever we realize that we have been focused on ourselves, whenever we realize our sin and how we have not been who God has called us to be, how we have turned away from God. Whenever the Holy Spirit convicts us of that, we can turn back to the cross, turn back to the one who came for us. Jesus came for you, died for you, rose again for you, so that heaven, yes, will be gained. It will be gained And now, today, in the meantime, to live is Christ. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.