FAITH: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Phil. 1:12-14, 19-30
September 21, 2008
Proper 20 (19th Sun. after Pentecost)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 1, verses 12 through 14, and 19 through 30; but particularly these words: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Today’s text is the very beginning of a letter Paul writes to some very close friends. Paul had helped to establish the Philippian congregation. Philippi was the only congregation from whom Paul had ever accepted any financial support. At all other places he earned his living by making tents. Paul’s relationship to the Philippians was a very close one and that is why he begins his letter to them with the words, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now.”

This letter that Paul wrote to the Philippians has been called the letter of “JOY”. But considering the circumstances, it seems hard for us to understand what Paul or the Philippians had to be joyful about. In verse 14 of this chapter we find out that Paul is in Prison. And we find out in verses 29 and 30 that the Philippians too are suffering persecution similar to Paul, for Paul writes, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.

South East Texas is going through suffering right now. No Electricity still for many, no running water, long lines for Gasoline, trees down – some even through the roof tops of houses, limbs everywhere, and other things. But you and I here in North Harris County are suffering nothing like the poor folks down in Galveston and Bolivar (no longer a peninsula, but an island). Can they — Can we — find joy in our suffering?

The most obvious question that any one would now ask Paul would be, “Why are you joyful? What is it about being in prison and suffering as you are that gives you joy??” And Paul answered that question for us. He said, “Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.”

That was what gave joy to Paul even while he was suffering in Prison — the fact that while he was behind those prison bars, the gospel message of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was being proclaimed to his fellow prisoners and the guards and throughout the known world of his day as people told why Paul was imprisoned. The message of salvation was not kept in Prison — but was spread even more as Paul himself became a prisoner for the Gospel’s sake.

But there was one thing about being in prison that caused Paul some concern. You see, many people never got out of those prisons ALIVE! In Paul’s day, prisons were rough, hard, vicious places. If the other inmates did not kill you, the guards just might. So Paul was dealing very practically with something that was on his mind — the fact that he just might actually die in the prison. That is why Paul says in our text, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

The one fear that most all people of the world have — is the fear of dying. No body WANTS to die. There were those who stayed on Galveston Island, who said that the night Ike blew through, they prayed harder than they had ever prayed in their lives. Many were frightened. Many said “never again”. Next time they will evacuate when told too. Survival is a strong part of the personality of every individual. But Paul had reached a point in his spiritual life where he was not afraid of dying. As a matter of fact — he even looked forward to it. As he said in the text, “For me to die is gain.”

Each and every one of us must someday face our death. Some of us are closer to that event than others — not necessarily because of age either — because children, teenagers, and middle-aged people die every day just as the elderly do. We may not be in prison like Paul was — but each day brings the possibility of a bad hurricane, a fall, a bad car accident, or some other disaster. But even with that possibility, there is absolutely no reason for us to moan and groan about how terrible the world is — instead we can rejoice as Paul did and say — “For me to live is Christ, and for me to die is gain.”

Paul lists in our text for today some good reasons for dying and some good reasons for living. Paul said, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better.” Paul was so sure of God’s promises through faith in Jesus Christ that death was not a problem for him. It would be a joy for him to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the letter to the Romans, death was one of those things that Paul lists which, “can never separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

In the last 35 years, as a Pastor, I have sat at the bedside of many faithful Christians in their last hours who longed for their eternal home in heaven and relief from this world. Each and every one of us by grace, through faith, can have that calm peace which Paul had in times of trial and suffering. For we know that Jesus Christ suffered, died, and arose for us. We know that Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven, so that we know when we die we will go to be with our Lord and Savior. There is no doubt about were we will be eternally, because “God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son, that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.” We are sure of heaven — NOT because of what we have done on earth — but because of what Jesus Christ did for us while he was on earth. Jesus promised–”He who believes in me, though he were dead yet shall he live–and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

But even with the joys of heaven before him, Paul still felt that this life was important too — not so much for himself — but for the good that he could do for others. That is why he says, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all.” Paul knew that when he went to heaven, his preaching days were over — so for him, life was important so that he could share Christ with others just a little longer.

That is really the way we should all be looking at life. For ourselves, we could just go on to heaven right now. After all, why put up with the hurricanes of life, the traffic jams, the hassle of long lines, the frustrations of this life, when we could enter into eternal joy and glory with God!! But God has left us here on earth. We have a task to perform here. We have a message to share here. We have a Gospel to proclaim here. For the sake of others who do not know Jesus Christ, or who are indifferent to Him, we must proclaim the Lord in our own way, until he comes again to claim all who are his.

We are still in this life because there is work for us yet to do, before we inter into glory with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That’s what Paul was talking about to the Ephesians when he said, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – God has work for us to do. So let’s be about our Father’s business!!

Faith is a matter of life and death. In life, faith prompts us to do the will of God and to spread his message of Salvation, by grace, through faith. And in death, faith leads us home to our God. Through faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can proclaim the words of Paul with all boldness and confidence — “For me to live is Christ, for me to die is gain.” To God be the glory! Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.