Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
I am getting older, and we all are dying. Yet every time I get a new ache or pain (and let’s be honest, those are practically daily, and especially worse when starting a new exercise regime) I start to panic about how I might be dying. News flash: Since the moment we are born we are dying. We come to live quickly and die, there is little else, unless you are a Christ follower and believe in eternity.
I am reminded today in Philippians that Christ came to live quite a short life and then to die. He had about 3 years of earthly ministry and then he willingly went to the cross to die. He was obedient to death, even death on a cross. And I too am called to pick up my cross and follow him. . .into death. In this current state of medical advancement, where many of us live to be 70, 80, 90 and beyond, it is sometimes hard to remember that we have been called to die with Christ. We are called to die to self and to submit (yes, even to death) to God’s will.
In a world where fear of death is peddled in every medical office and many pharmaceutical companies are getting rich on that fear, we MUST remember that death is better than life. We who have Christ, have life eternal. . .being absent from this body means being present with CHRIST! This is a truth to cherish, celebrate and anticipate. . .not fear. Fear is from the Devil . . . flee from it today.
Father, show me how to live sold out like Paul. Earlier in Philippians 1 he said “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Help me live a life of dedication to your glory the way Paul does here. Help me truly realize the reality of eternity with you, and to look forward to that hope even while I serve here. May this be the year that I am so sure of you that I too can say with Paul “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
