“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:20–21 NLT)

 

Every one of us has something that moves us in life. Something we are excited about. What is your purpose in life? How would you complete this statement: “For to me, living means living for _______”? You might say, “For to me, living means living for fun.” Or “For to me, living means living for pleasure.” Or “For to me, living means living for money.” Or “For to me, living means living for success.” Or “For to me, living means living for fame.” Or “For to me, living means living for sex.” No matter what it is, everybody lives for something.

For the apostle Paul, living meant living for Christ. That was his purpose. That was his motivation. But he didn’t stop there. He completed the statement by saying, “and dying is even better.”

Only the person who says, “For to me, living means living for Christ,” can say, “and dying is even better.” When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion, He destroyed the power of death. That’s why Paul wrote, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55 NLT).

When you live for Christ, you no longer have to fear death, because you know that death is nothing more than a transition from point A to point B. A transition from a body that is wearing out to a new body that God has created for you. A transition from an earth that is corrupt and separated from God to a new Heaven and a new earth where you will live in His presence. A transition from a world filled with sin, temptation, and unhappiness to that place where there will be no more sorrow. When you confidently say in this life, “For to me, living means living for Christ,” you don’t have to be afraid of what happens in the next life.

That’s not to suggest that Christians should have a death wish. If you look at Paul’s words in Philippians 1:22–24, you see his ambivalence about dying. “But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live” (NLT).

The reality is that God has given us important responsibilities in this life—responsibilities to people who don’t yet know Christ as well as responsibilities to our fellow believers. Recognizing, embracing, and making the most of those opportunities helps build unity in the body of Christ.

If we live for Christ, we can face death with no fear. In the meantime, though, let’s make the most of the time we have on earth.

 

Reflection Question: What evidence of living for Christ might people see in your life?

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