"To live is Christ and to die is gain"

My original plan for this blog today was to walk through some verses from Philippians 1, but God took me in a different direction; it became apparent that instead I was to focus on a singular verse – Philippians 1:21 (“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”).  I’ve been forthright about my health struggles in 2023.  I’m certainly quite grateful to the Lord for the gift of life, but just to have it documented, what if I didn’t survive?  My answer is Philippians 1:21; “to live is Christ” – a sentiment I want to delve deeper into in a moment – and to die is actually gain.  

I was impacted by an article that I came across from got questions.org titled “What does it mean “to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21)?”  This page begins with these words: “Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Most people focus on the second part of the verse, “to die is gain,” and contemplate the joys of heaven.  But we should not overlook what comes before.  The importance of the phrase “to live is Christ” cannot be overstated.  In all honesty, this phrase should be central to every Christian’s life.” 

While I’m not able to share the whole article today – the link can be found right here if you are interested in reading it in its entirely; however, I did want to include that the author goes on write: ““To live is Christ” means that we are willing to give up anything that prevents us from having Christ.  Paul’s testimony in this regard: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him” (Philippians 3:7-9).  We cling to the promise of our Lord in Mark 10:29-30 that our sacrifices for Jesus’ sake will be repaid a hundredfold.

“To live is Christ” means that Christ is our focus, our goal, and our chief desire.  Christ is the center point of our mind, heart, body and soul.  Everything we do, we do for Christ’s glory.  As we run the “race marked out for us,” we lay aside the entangling sin and worldly distractions, “fixing our eyes of Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2).  He is our life.”

Someone recently asked me about my view on if there is afterlife or not.  I answered that I believed that there is an afterlife.  When he asked me to elaborate more on this, in essence, I answered, ‘my dad passed away several years ago now; he went to Heaven because he had a real, right relationship with God.  And because I also have a real, right relationship with God, whenever I die, I will see my dad again in Heaven.’  This person seemed satisfied with my answer. 

The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).  Call on His name, if you haven’t, and be saved from God’s wrath against sin.  To have a relationship with God is glorious; to live for Him is so much better than to live for self (“to live is Christ”), and one day, when this life ends, the infinite bliss of the paradise of Heaven awaits (“to die is gain”).  Perhaps I will say more about Rebecca St. James’ 2003 song “Yes, I believe in God” another day, as a lot more should be said.  But for now, let me share that I was particularly struck – hearing this song again 20 years later – with this line from her work, “So through the fire I’ll be refined.  And if that fire were to take life, I’ll be with Him forever.  I will be with Him forever.”    

God bless,

Kevin