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“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21
I am an adventurer at heart. I love a new challenge. In 18 years of living with my Mom and Dad, we moved to four different places. In 38 years of marriage, the lovely Debbie and I have moved to 16 different places. My life has been one of constant motion, change, and new beginnings. Everytime we decide to move to another place, I get excited to see what God will do, who are the people I will meet, etc.
For those of you who have lived in one place all of your life, perhaps you can relate to my thrill of moving if you have ever gone on a vacation to a place such as Hawaii or Disney World. Can you remember the anticipation that coursed through your entire body as your departure grew closer? Can you remember the thrill of your expectations? That is kind of how it is for me everytime my wife and I move.
As I get older (I’m 57), I’m finding that my desire to move and see new and different places is not as great of a desire as it once was. I am enjoying pastoring Lewisville Baptist Church and hope to remain here for many more years. However, I am also finding my desire increasing for a different kind of move. I can honestly say that I look forward, with increasing excitement, to the day when my soul leaves this earthly body and goes to heaven. When I say this to most people, they give me a funny look like I’m crazy.
For the longest time, I couldn’t understand why Paul would write in Phil. 1:21 that to die is gain. How can death be gaining anything? But now I understand and honestly believe that the death of my earthly body is my entrance into a wonderful eternity in the presence of my savior, the Lord Jesus. For me, death is the final move to a place that is better than anything I can imagine (1 Cor. 2:9). It’s going to be better than a trip to Disney World, better than watching the most exciting football game ever, better than the catching the biggest fish, better than the best hour of life ever spent on planet earth.
Since I know that heaven is going to be so good, then why should I dread it? Why should I avoid talking about it? Why should I ignore it? Why should I not think about it? Many people, Christians included, say that to speak of death is too morbid of a subject and they try to change it, the subject, that is. According to Hebrews 2:14-15, if we belong to Christ, we have been released from the bondage of the fear of death.
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
If the aforementioned scriptures are true, then why do we not live like they are true? Why do we fear death? Why are we not truly looking forward with eager anticipation our homegoing to heaven?
Is it possible that we believe about heaven with our head but not with our heart? Is it possible that we do not wholly and completely trust that what the Bible says is true? When we speak one way and live another, are we faithful witnesses of Christ? If we still live in fear of death, are we not trusting in Christ alone?
My eager anticipation of my earthly death and heavenly arrival does not mean that I seek to hasten my departure prematurely. It is not my choice to determine when and how I will leave my earthly body. That is God’s domain, not mine. Thus, I remain in this body seeking to follow where God leads and do what He wants me to do irregardless of place, position, or protection. But I can’t hardly wait to go to be with Jesus. It’s going to be the ultimate adventure.
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