DEATH AND THE LIFE AFTER (4)

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

—Philippians 1:21

There is great gain for the believer in death. Physical death is no more condemnation because Christ has taken the believer’s condemnation. Death is now a joyful entrance into the place God has prepared for the redeemed of Christ. A place where “God will wipe away every tear from the believer’s eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain “for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4). But if death is going to be gain for you, then Christ must be your Savior. You must trust Him alone for righteousness and forgiveness, and your hope of everlasting life must rest on nothing else or no one else but Jesus! The Apostle Paul knew that his righteousness did not come by way of his own works, but his righteousness was by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. And Paul knew Christ not only saved him, but Christ also sustained him. That’s why he wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” Christ gave Paul, and every believer, the strength to endure to the end even in the face of persecution, suffering, trials and death. And so we read in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

—Pastor S. Henry