Those words written by Paul in Philippians 1:21 are so powerful! Paul is saying the greatest gain in the world is to die - to enter onto eternity's shore where God is waiting for us and where He will welcome us with open arms as His children. I don't know about you but that would take a lot of soul-searching for me to make that claim. Instead of wealth or health or food or clothes or a cooler car (I know that this didn't apply to Paul back then since they didn't have cars) or a nicer house or (for guys) a beautiful wife or (for girls) a handsome husband, he said the greatest gain a believer could have would be to die!
But what kind of faith could this be that makes a man who, for most of his life, is on the verge of death say that the greatest gain in the world would be to lose his life? A faith where the outcome is already known. A faith where we know who the Victor is, who comes out on top and that is Jesus who overcame sin, death, and Satan so we could have this eternal life and say with Paul "To live is Christ and to die is gain". It's very easy to get discouraged when we're slandered or maligned for believing in Jesus. It's very easy to get discouraged when people we're trying to share Christ with don't respond the way we want them to. It is also very easy to be fearful of the world when we step out of our comfort zone to share our faith knowing full well that people won't like us for it. But the greatest hope in the world is that no matter what people think about us, it doesn't change the fact that we have won! Not because of what we've done but because of Christ who overcame everything in our place. The Bible says that Jesus will return victorious to earth to judge the living and the dead and we will all have to answer to Him. As believers, we can stand in full confidence knowing that we've been saved from our sins and also knowing that Jesus is the triumphant One. That should be an encouragement to each of us as we go out making disciples. I know it is for me.
In Christ,
Kurt
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