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

having
the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very
much better" (Phil1:21-23).
In these words we see the entire substance of the
apostle's life and what he looked to beyond this life.
Everything that Paul did revolved around his Lord
whom he served. He knew that his Lord promises
salvation that cannot be hindered by death, but is only
brought closer by it. Thus, death was viewed as a
valuable thing.
It is so hard for many to look at death in this way-- to
see death as a gain and not a loss. No one is able to
view death in this way unless they live for Christ.
Without Christ, death is an enemy of man. Those of
the world fear death. Most people don't like to even
talk about death and dying. Most shun the subject or
make jokes about it as if it isn't real. But death is real.
We can't hide from it or avoid it. No one escapes
death. For those who are without the Lord, having
never rendered obedience to His gospel and thus not
striving to live for Him, death is a terrifying thought.
For these there is nothing but a terrifying expectation
of judgment to look forward to after death (2Thess.
1:7-ff).
However, we do not have to view death in this manner.
We must come to view death as God views it and not
as the world. How does God view death? "Precious in
the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones"
(Ps. 116:15). The world may view death as a terrible
enemy, but God views death as a precious thing for
those who are righteous. The only way to be righteous
before God is through Jesus-- living for Him. Without
Christ, death is a terrible, fearful, thing. To live with the
constant fear of death is a pitiful slavery. Yet Jesus
came, suffered, and died that He might set men free
from the fear of death. "Since then the children share
in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of

the same, that through death He might render

powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the
devil; and might deliver those who through fear of
death were subject to slavery all their lives" (Heb.
2:14-15). The only way we can view death as God
views it, is through Jesus. For the Christian, death is
gain not loss, because through the blood of Christ we
are made righteous, free from sin (Ac. 2:38; 22:16).
Some men, because they are so overwhelmed with
trials, heartaches, and pain that come from living an
aimless life, desire to die. Many even commit suicide.
But these have a perverted view of death. These view
death as an empty escape. But this is wrong. Death is
not an empty escape, it is a new beginning. For the
unrighteous it is the beginning of a eternity of torment.
But what a wonderful new beginning for those right
with God (cf. Lk. 16:19-26; Jn. 5:28-29). "Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord from now on! Yes, says
the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for
their deeds follow with them" (Rev. 14:13).
For the Christian, "to die is gain." They can be assured
of this fact through the death and resurrection of
Jesus. Having lived for His Father, He died, was raised
from the dead, and glorified. This is the very thing God
promises us if we live for Him. Jesus is proof in that He
has already received it and tells us, "Do not be afraid; I
am the first and the last, the living One; and I was
dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have
the keys of death and of Hades" (Rev. 1:17-18). Just as
Jesus was raised, in the last day we will be raised.
"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and
we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on
the imperishable, and this mortal must put on
immortality. But when this perishable will have put on
the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on
immortality, then will come about the saying that is

written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death,

where is your victory? O death where is your sting"
(1Cor. 15:50-55). Death has no sting for the child of
God, for it is simply the ticket home. It is the means to
great gain beyond this realm. All of the saints whose
bodies were once subject to disease and deformities,
burdened with pain, will be given a glorious spiritual
body that only heaven can give. For in that day we will
be made like Jesus. "Beloved, now we are children of
God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be.
We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him,
because we shall see Him just as He is" (1Jn. 3:2).
The only way we can say that to die is gain is if we are
living for Christ. Are you?
How does Pauls description of death as gain influence
our gathering here in this setting? To make such a
statement in this kind of setting is not some idealistic
thought nor some sadistic wish. Such a position is a
result of the undergirding belief in the Lord of Life.
First, death is gain because it removes us from the
pain and suffering of life. Jesus, Himself, said that in
this life there will be tribulation. No one is immune. We
all must face those days of suffering and heartache.
But when death occurs, there is not longer suffering.
Death removes us from all of lifes pain and suffering
and ushers us into the abiding presence of Christ
where there shall never again be pain.
Life includes pain and suffering. We are not promised
an existence that is free from pain. Fortunately, it is all
a temporary condition.
Second, death is gain because it removes us from the
evils and struggles of this life. We are limited
creatures. Life is most definitely a battleground
between the forces of good and evil, and we are
constantly caught in that battle. We are weak, and sin

fills our lives, even in the best of us. There is a battle

of conscience that wages itself constantly in our lives
and in the lives of all believers. In fact, it is not
pessimistic at all to believe that life is a long series of
struggles. We grow as a result of these struggles, but
they have their price.
Third, death is gain because it secures for us those
things that are unfailing. Life has many
disappointments. We work and strive for those things
that thieves can steal, storms can destroy, and time
can take away. Much of life seems to surround things
that are failing. However, once we are ushered into the
divine presence of Christ, all things become unfailing.
For our reward shall be gifts from Christ that shall
never tarnish, nor can they be taken away. They
become our gifts for eternity.
Fourth, death is gain because death alone can bring us
into the presence of Christ. All men and women should
seek to follow the example of Paul who made Christ his
ultimate goal. Christ was not only Pauls beginning, his
sustaining element in life, but the end for which all of
life should be lived. Christ should be our ultimate goal.
To be ushered into the presence of Christ solves
everything. All the problems, struggles, and pain will
be done away. For the Good Shepherd of life and death
will care for us in such a way that is beyond our own
imagination.
Our thoughts come back to this setting. Yes, there is
pain, grief, and suffering in this setting. But let us not
forget the hope that surrounds us and undergirds us in
this moment. For we are gathered in this setting not
just to acknowledge our grief but to celebrate our
hope. For with the apostle Paul, we can individually
and collectively acknowledge our faith in a Lord who is

in control of all of life. We recognize that death is

simply the passage from one stage of life to another.
Without death, our own resurrection would never be

possible. Paul really was correct when he said, For to

me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
God give us grace to share in that kind of faith in this
kind of moment.