"For me, to live is..."

”For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 – NKJV) These familiar words of the Apostle Paul perplex, inspire and challenge us. How can a person sincerely say such a thing as “to live is Christ, and to die is gain?” Deep in our hearts, we struggle not to live for lesser things: comfort, pleasure, personal success, health, beauty, notoriety. Don’t you think? Paul’s example inspires us to consider such fleeting things as immeasurably less valuable than knowing Christ more intimately, growing in Him as we serve as His witnesses. The Apostle’s declaration also challenges us to think rightly of death: for the believer, death is simply “breaking camp” for a permanent, heavenly home, where our personal relationship with Jesus will be completely unhindered by sin within us, or around us!