“For to Me, to Live Is Christ and to Die Is Gain”
(Philippians 1:21)

by Terry Shanahan, Northeast Region Minister

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted 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 go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. (Philippians 1:20-26)

An imprisoned Paul, awaiting the fate of his jailers’ decisions, has time to reflect on life. In one way or another we have been in this situation, whether it is our own life or the life of family member, a friend or parishioner. We have dealt with matters of life and death, as Hebrews 9:27 says that man is destined to die once. However, Paul reflects on his own mortality as he considers life or death, and he rejoices that these are two great options. This situation is win-win. For him, to live is Christ, to die is gain. There is no downside to the circumstances he faces. He will either be with Christ, which he says is the better thing, or he will remain to be involved in Kingdom work, or as he says, for progress and joy in the faith. Paul is clear on this point that if he remains on earth it is for a divine purpose. He lives for Christ.

After avoiding being hospitalized all my life, I managed to make up for that in 2013. Three separate hospital stays for a total of 14 days are more then enough to even the scales. I say that with the understanding that we often have no control over these matters, and I am forever grateful to God for the positive outcomes and the blessings He has bestowed upon me. Though at no time was I at death’s door, the occasions were such that I signed several waivers that the next procedure or surgery, although not expected to, could lead to my demise.

When these occasions occur and with each passing year we are given the opportunity to pause and reflect on our own mortality. Much like Paul, who had the opportunity to consider the ramifications of being on earth or going home to be with the Lord. Knowing that we are not even guaranteed tomorrow, we, like Paul, are assured that when we depart this earth we will be with Christ, which Paul says, is “better by far.” The great evangelist D.L. Moody is quoted as saying, “Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal — a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.”

As we have that same assurance we must also know that if we remain on earth for however long that may be, we do so with a divine purpose. As surely as we will be called home to be with Christ, we are also called to remain here with and for Christ. We are not just called to a belief but to a way of life that continues until we are called home. As Paul says, If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. If we are to go on living in the body, it must mean fruitful labor for us as well.