3-25-2014

 Good Morning All,

          Philippians 1:21; “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

      One of the greatest difficulties that we have in explaining our faith to non-believers or to doubters is that we often speak in an almost paradox or convoluted thinking.  We speak of “living by dying”, “to die is to gain”, “I count all I have is nothing.”  It can be very confusing indeed.  But we don’t have to feel too guilty about it, no one, absolutely no one, did this more than St. Paul.  As he wrote we read perplexing dialog and sometimes confusing things.  He does tell us that the wisdom of the world is folly to God and so on.  Yet what did he mean?  How do we view what Paul is telling us?

    First and foremost, we know that Paul is the exact opposite of those who view Christianity as a crutch for the weak minded or for the superstitious.  Paul does nor write of a faith that helps us to limp through this world as cowards and as one who is beaten and overwhelmed by what is going on around us.  Paul’s faith, and our faith, is based on a victory that occurs not only in this world but in the world to come.  Ours is an eternal victory.  It started, ironically, when Jesus said, “It is finished.”  The task he came to do was complete; he finished the sacrifice which sets us free from sin.  This victory was forcefully and undeniably shown when the tomb that tried to hold Christ in erupted with light and power and joy.  The rock blocking the opening was destroyed and death no longer locks us in.

    We see that our faith, our Christianity, is not primarily to be used as a crutch to face the struggles of this temporal world.  It is not the primary focus to give us something to rely on as we look back at our life and be contented that we “lived good life.”  Our faith is a forward looking action.  We look forward to a victory over the grave and we look to a life of everlasting joy and peace.

    That is why Paul says, “to die is gain”; we will complete our final victory over death and the devil, the grave holds no power over us, we are eternal in Christ our Savior.  This is why we view the funeral service as a time when we celebrate our loved one’s glorious victory.  We are sad for them because we will miss them but only for a little while.  We will be reunited with them in glory when we live with the King of Kings who is lord of us all.

    That is why so many don’t understand our thinking.  The unbeliever thinks the grave is the end.  For us it is only a passageway to eternity.  Our life here on earth, even though we see it as completely important now, is but a speck of time when you think of an eternity awaiting us.  We can look forward with confidence, we can look forward with excitement, we can look forward with an eagerness because of what God is doing for us.  Everything here, on this earth and in this life, is of such minor importance; it is no wonder that Paul writes for himself and for us, “to die is gain,”

Father of all mercy, we eagerly wait for our time to join with you in heaven.  We look forward to living in perfect union with you for eternity.  Bring those who are lost or confused into the truth of your wonderful grace.  Give to them the same certainty of salvation which we possess through faith.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret