For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21 NASB)
Even though we’ve been married for 37, my bride and I shoot to keep date nights a part of our routine. Recently we tried a nearby “fancy” restaurant which had a nice atmosphere, but, except for their carrot cake, less than delicious food. Even so, we relished the new experience and continued our date with a movie at home.
We rented The Long Goodbye, an inspiring documentary about Kara Tippetts’ struggle with terminal cancer. In one scene, Kara shared vulnerably about a night of weeping after learning her cancer had spread. She was wrestling with Philippians 1:21, admitting to God she wasn’t sure she could trust that “dying is gain”.
Quoting her: “And there was this ever so clear answer, ‘Oh, I’ve got that taken care of. Kara, do you believe that to live is Christ.’” Kara went on to confess it was hard “to live is Christ” in the midst of her battle, but she wanted to.
I want to as well and knowing God has my eternity taken care of, really helps. I think of what Paul wrote, “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2:9b NASB)
There’s gladness in knowing how our story ends. But latching onto eternal joy, means loosening our grip on now. God wants us totally committed to Him; not our personal comfort. He strips away things which distract us from Him. This may seem cruel, but it’s actually very loving.
Paul writes of his own experience with this truth, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead” (II Corinthians 2:8-9 NASB)
I’m no Greek scholar, but in my phone app, which shows the true Greek meaning behind our English translations, “is” in “to live is Christ” has no corresponding Greek word. Does this mean to live Christ is a proper way to read it? Perhaps. Regardless, I do want to live Christ.
He indwells me by His Spirit.[1] God has placed me in Christ.[2] I’ve been hidden in Christ and Christ is my life.[3]
One day I will see Christ as He truly is, in undescribable glory. If I’m living Christ now, dying is gain. I’ll have more of Him.
Lord, I want to live each moment for you. Please be my strength, my purpose, my reason, my life. I’m weak and my heart is easily swayed. Only in You and by Your Indwelling Spirit may I live a life totally focused on you as my life.
[1] Galatians 2:20
[2] I Corinthians 1:30
[3] Colossians 3:3-4
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.
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