For me…To Die is Gain

I’ve been reading John Piper’s, Don’t Waste Your Life, and let me tell ya, wow. Huge shoutout to dad for recommending. I’m a huge fan of paperback and dog-eared pages, but since my two 50 lb suitcases couldn’t fit every book in the world (unfortunately) I have to be reading them on my kindle. Thank you Amazon for the highlight feature. I have every other sentence highlighted. Haha! Oops. 🤭

I love how God uses the words of those who chase after Him daily to bring me to my knees in submission. To give me the strength to move forward with the things He’s put on my heart. Lately, Piper has been talking about Paul’s words in Philippians, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” If we are suppose to be glorifying God with our lives, how can we do that if our greatest gain is death? Here’s the answer: death is a gain to Christians because it means we will enter eternity and be with Jesus forever! There is nothing greater than that. We have to learn how to die in order to know how to live. To live. To live is Christ. What Paul is saying here is that living is FOR Christ. To bring Him glory and exalt in Him. To find our greatest joy (“to count it all joy”) in Him. When my day comes to die I want to feel joy and peace in leaving this world, because the best is still yet to come. I’m awaiting eternity with my King. So while I live, with death in mind; not as a thing to be dreaded or feared, but something to await in anticipation and joy when it does come; I will do it all to exalt, lift, bring glory and magnify the name of Christ Jesus. I will boast in only this: the cross and the work done on Calvary. Because by His blood I am healed, forgiven and given blessing upon blessing. For me, Amelia, to live is Christ and to die is gain.