To Live is Christ; To Die is Gain

One of the advantages of experiencing loss is that my view of death has changed. I no longer fear my own death. I now can understand Paul’s meaning when he penned the words, “to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Paul spent his entire life in devotion to Christ and he knew that his imminent and inevitable death while he waited his beheading would be his departure to his true home, heaven (Philippians 3:20).

When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, she intuitively knew that she would not be cured. When the doctor delivered the news that her cancer was fatal, her reaction was acceptance. As any mother would, she worried about leaving behind her family and mourned that she would not live to see her future grandchildren, but she was surrendered to God’s will even though it meant that she would not receive an earthly deliverance. In our most vulnerable moments, we all fear death, but Hebrews 2:15 says that He will free us from the fear of death which has enslaved us.

Before experiencing death of my close loved ones, I had always imagined death as a defeat and as Satan’s victory. In reality, death is God’s ultimate rescue from a sinful world, from decaying bodies, from pain and suffering, and to bring us into His presence spiritually and physically. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (II Timothy 4:18, NASB). As we finish our lives and the path ahead of us, we need to desire in our lives (and in our deaths), that Christ be exalted (Philippians 1:20). At the time of our deaths, we will finally encounter Christ who laid down His life for us. As we close our eyes in this world, we will open them to the magnificience of heaven and to see the face we have waited our entire spiritual life to see. What a beautiful day that will be.

If you are suffering from overwhelming and paralyzing grief from the loss of a loved one or shock from an unexpected diagnosis, Romans 8:18 reminds us that our present sufferings and circumstances will be nothing when we compare them to the glory that is ahead. Life is not over here. The best is yet to come.