The Way We Should LiveНамуна

The Meaning of Death for the Believer

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This would be a good verse for your tombstone. Why did Paul say, “For to me to live is Christ”? Because Paul was consumed with, focused on, and intoxicated with Jesus. Paul, the man who once hated Jesus, had been ambushed by Christ’s love on the road to Damascus, and he never got over it.

Paul is saying, “My life is not about me. It’s not about my comforts, my security, my dreams, my rights. It’s all about Jesus. Loving Jesus, following Jesus, trusting Jesus, obeying Jesus, enjoying Jesus. For to me to live is Christ.”

But Paul goes on to say, “and to die is gain.” Why did Paul say that death is even better than life? How could he say that? It’s simple. Death, for the believer, means you go immediately to the presence of Christ. You are with the Lord in a tangible, physical way. You are home. For the believer, death simply means that you are more alive than ever, and that will be so good.

May God give us the heart and mind that Paul had here. May Paul’s words characterize you and me. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”