Saturday, August 10, 2013
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
PRICELESS FUTURE
The apostle Paul was "in chains for Christ," a prisoner in Rome, at the time the above words were written to the Philippian Christians. Yet his letter to the Philippians has often been referred to as the "joy epistle." Having a priceless treasure, an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:4) can affect the way you evaluate losing your freedom and all the earthly treasures that do perish, spoil, or fade.
It can even affect the way we view leaving this life itself. Despite the great blessings that God had showered upon Paul, causing him to meet and benefit so many people who became beloved to him, his "joy and crown" (Philippians 4:1), yet his deep desire remained to be with Christ, which is better by far (Philippians 1:23). How he longed to see again the Lord who had come to him outside Damascus and called him to life!
Such longing also helps us to assess the current appeals that come to us from the devil, from this world, and from our own sinful human nature. They may glitter. They are not gold. That becomes evident to us when we see their end. They are not heading toward being with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17), but toward separation from our Priceless Treasure. With Jesus in our heart, we would far rather sing:
Evil world, I leave thee;
Thou canst not deceive me,
Thine appeal is vain.
Sin that once did blind me,
Get thee far behind me,
Come not forth again.
Past thy hour, O pride and power;
Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,
Leave thee now forever.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 347:5)
