"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

            I heard an interview this past Wednesday morning with a father after he had discovered through a text-message from his daughters that his home, cars and business had all been completely destroyed by the tornado that swept through Joplin MO.  He and his wife had been traveling and were afraid their girls had been killed (but they had not).   He was asked by a reporter, “You seem to be so much at peace.  With all this loss, have you given up hope?”  He replied without any pause:  “Of course not.  What is important, we still have.  Our house, cars, and business are not our life.  Our life is Jesus Christ and that cannot be taken away.  And, of course, we’re glad we’re all alive too.”

            I thought, what an interesting – and perhaps unusual – way to say talk about faith. “Our life is Jesus Christ – and we’re glad we’re all alive too.”  It sounds like he was saying that even if any of their physical lives had been lost, they would still have a life.  How many of us would think that way?  How many of us would quickly and intuitively say such a thing.  I’m guessing the answer is – few of us.  But, today I want to try to convince us that what that father said is the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus.

*Jesus:  “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.  What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”  (Mark 8:35-36)

*Peter and Paul:  “You are not your own;  you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20)… “the precious blood of Christ.”  (1 Peter 1:19)

*Paul:  ” I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20)

            So the consistent message of Scripture is that to follow Jesus is to have him as our life.  And our life together as a church family will only be what God will have it be when each of us -- and all of us -- says, “Christ is my life.”  A church does life together when we all are seeking to live not for ourselves but for Christ and his gospel.  And no text in the Bible is clearer about that than the one we come to today, Philippians 1:12-26, that has at its center v. 21, “For me to live is Christ – and to die is gain.”  I want to talk about this as simply as possible by asking two questions:  1)what does this mean, and  2)what difference does it make to have Jesus as our life?

Question 1:  What does it mean that to live is Christ?

            First, let me tell you that it does not mean that we don’t find joy in other things in the world.  In this same letter, Paul will declare, “I know what it is to abound and what it is to have nothing.  I have learned to be content in all circumstances.”  And the way we do is when Christ is at the center.  Christians have always enjoyed the good parts of God’s creation that our Father has made.  It’s just that we don’t live for them.  So, to live is Christ cannot mean that we don’t love good entertainment or art or sports…  So, what is it?

Let me show you how powerfully Paul really put this.  He really simply said, “For me to live – Christ!”  There is no verb in the sentence.  We’re left to fill in the verb.  Is the Bible teaching:

*For me to live means to trust Christ?

*Depends on Christ?

*Is to become more and more like Christ?

*Calls me to glorify Christ – to show the world what he is like – to tell the world about him?

            The way the Bible puts it draws in all those – and probably is best captured simply by the words – “to live is Christ.  But, what does even that mean?  Let me walk us through life’s stages to explain it:

Case #1:  Infant

            I will always remember a terrible judgment call I made when Heather was just starting to eat regular food.  Chris was trying to get her to eat spinach and was doing pretty well with it but then Chris had to take a call and I stepped in.  I gave Heather a bite of pudding.  You know what happened – there was no way to console her with spinach.  At that moment, the only thing that would satisfy her was pudding.  For her to live was pudding.  She was not going to be at peace – and neither were we – without it.

Case #2:  An Older Child 

I imagine that there are few (if any) homes represented here today in which a parent hasn’t had to engage in discipline.  The Bible says that any parent who loves a child will discipline that child – right?  But, sometimes discipline means that we take something away from our beloved children that they don’t think they can live without.  You know what I mean:  “Because of this report card, I’m taking away your cell phone – Facebook access – Internet.”  And the response is, “No! You’re ruining my life!”  There is a sense that I cannot live without that.  In that situation, “For me to live is Facebook.”

Case #3:  College Student

One Wednesday afternoon while leading TIU, I had several student leaders meet with me and we discussed this text.  Several discussed whether they had made other things their lives.  One wondered if he could have joy if he could no longer play football.  Another – from our law school -- asked what she would do if she failed the bar exam.  Another loved children and wondered if he would have joy if he never married or if he could never have children of his own. 

Then, it became brutally honest with the undergrads.  One young man shared that he longed to have Jesus as his life but that he had come to college with addictions both to drugs and pornography.  He honestly shared, “President, here in your office I sincerely say that for me to live is Christ.  But, I know that a time will come when I am alone and I will think – if I cannot have that drug or go to that website, I cannot be satisfied.”  And one of our women leaders told me of her long struggle with bulimia.  She said, “I also long to say that for me to live is Christ.  But, I wonder if I can ever be happy when I look at how I look.”

Are you beginning to see what the Bible is teaching?  Let’s not leave it with our children and students.  We get older and we think we must have a certain promotion or a certain job title.  If someone else gets it, we become so discouraged that we can hardly live.  For me to live is___?  What do you have to have in order to have joy?

Case #4:  A Senior Adult

I want to tell the entire church that many, many of you have been teaching me important lessons about fallowing Jesus as I have dealt with countless issues related to my aging parents over the past year.  You’ve told me that one of the most important realities about aging is dealing with loss of things and of people very important to us.  You retire and can no longer say, “I AM an engineer” but I WAS…”  Eyesight or hearing fail so you feel left out of deliberations.  You lose the ability to drive – or play golf – or to get up the stairs.  You lose the family home.  You lose your spouse.  You have taught me that aging means we have to come to grips with the fact that what most people live for simply will not last.  If what it means to live is to have any of those things, then when they are lost, we lose our lives.

So, fill in the blank:  For me to truly live is ________.  Many times, we church folks fill in that blank with what Pastor Albert calls “acceptable idols”.  “Surely God wants me to have good health – I must have it to be happy!”  Surely God wants me to have a successful ministry.  I can’t be happy unless I have it.  For me to live is… my children.  Our life is God’s gift – not Christ.  We want the gift more than the giver.

Many of us think, “Surely, God wants my child to be a doctor or engineer or lawyer.”  Then the child says, “I’m going to be a missionary.”  Or, our children reject us altogether.  Or, the chosen university sends a rejection letter.  “This cannot be,” we think.  I know what’s best for my children.  I want what is best for them so surely God will give us what is best.”  But if those children – or our spouse – or a friend is put into Christ’s place, we will be disappointed.  And they will feel consumed.  Do you know the Lewis quote? "She's the sort of woman who lives for others - you can tell the others by their hunted expression."
— C.S. Lewis (The Screwtape Letters)

            Even “acceptable idols” are idols. 

            Lewis contends that heaven is made up of people who have said to God, “Your will be done!”  And hell is made up of people to whom God says, “Your will be done.”  “You insisted on living life without me as God so that’s what your eternity is.”  Heaven is made up of people who have said, “For me to live – Christ.”

            It’s like the young man who meets a girl and for the first time falls in love.  “I wasn’t really living – until I met you,” he says. But, I declare – even she cannot be God.  For me to live is Christ.  That means that having him, there is nothing else that we have to have if we will have joy.  And, then we can enjoy everything and everyone else for what they are – gifts from God.  Do you remember the George MacDonald quote I used a few weeks ago?  “When first things are put first, second things are not diminished but enhanced.”  Paul is saying that there is only one who is worthy of being the first thing -- “For me to live – Christ.”  That’s the testimony of every true believer.

Question #2:  What difference does it make when Christ is our life?

            I cannot do more than give you the main points and urge you to go back this week and look carefully at this powerful and beautiful section of God’s Word running from v.12-26.

 

Difference #1: We will have joy even when we experience what the world thinks is defeat or disappointment (1:12-14). …What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.  It has become clear… that I am in chains for Christ.

            That was Paul’s situation.  In Romans 15 he said he wanted to go to Rome as a preacher – so now he had gotten half his wish.  He was in Rome -- but not in a church preaching.  He was a prisoner.  And, he was in a situation that he was chained day and night to a member of the “Palace Guard” – the special bodyguards for Caesar (sort of the emperor’s Green Beret).  Of course, Paul could have been grousing about this if his life was his ministry.  He could have said, “I’ve been faithful to Christ and he lets me go to prison – over and over.  Why is he taking away my ministry?”  But, Paul’s life was not his ministry but the Christ he served.  So, he preached as a prisoner.

            And, the gospel was advancing because of it.  Apparently, according to v. 14, other believers were encouraged to be faithful to Christ in their homes and communities.   But, even more, people were coming to Jesus in Caesar’s inner circle.  You can imagine being chained hours to the Apostle Paul, can’t you?    As he says in v. 13, “They all know why I’m here, i.e., Jesus.”  And, I love the report in 4:22: “All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.” 

            So, when we lose something very precious to us – our jobs, our investments, a loved one, etc. – if Christ is our life then our life has not be taken away. Do you know the Mary Gardiner Brainard quote? "I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light." Paul is saying even more.  He’s saying that, when Jesus -- the light of the world is our life, then nothing will ever separate us from him.  We will live regardless of the disappointments that come our way.

Difference #2:  We will have joy even when others are criticizing us (2:15-18).  Some, out of selfish ambition, suppose they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

When we’re going through tough times, we find words of encouragement to be especially meaningful.  But, when we’re down, we usually find critical words to be devastating.  “Kicking a man when he’s down” has always been viewed to be utterly cruel.  When it happens to us. Most of us want to lash back – or to go into depression.

But, at least in the cities of Corinth and Philippi, the Apostle Paul had sacrificed greatly to bring the gospel.  People had trusted Jesus in those cities and churches had been founded.  But, Paul himself had been abused in those cities and since those times, had been repeatedly persecuted, beaten and imprisoned.  And what happened?  In both Corinth and Philippi, other preachers had come in afterwards and undermined Paul.  “He comes on too strong.  His irritating ways get him into this trouble, you know.  He only has himself to blame…”  In Corinth he said, “If I truly am out of my mind, it’s for people like you because I brought you the gospel in the first place. But, I’m not going to defend myself – because I don’t live for myself.  It doesn’t matter what people think of me.  What matters is what they do with Christ.  I simply no longer live for myself.  I live for Christ (2 Cor. 5:11-15).

And, the same thing happened here in Philippi.  People came into the city preaching about Jesus but mocking  this imprisoned Paul.  Paul says, “What does it matter?  Christ is my life so the important thing is that Christ is preached.  So, far from being embittered, I rejoice!”  Whew – I know this:  Few things are harder on a pastor than not being liked.  Our egos are awfully fragile.  So, this testimony from Paul tells of a miraculous transformation.  And, I only want to remind you of one of the “boil-down verses” about living for God in the Bible.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  When Christ is our life, we keep growing is having the strength not to fear the criticism of others (unless we need to hear it and repent of whatever we’re doing wrong).  We will live wisely when we fear only displeasing the one who is our life.

If Christ who is our life is pleased with us, then let others say what they will.  That’s what Paul is saying.

Difference #3:  We will have joy even when our future is uncertain (1:18a-26). For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two…

            Being in chains in a Roman prison, Paul’s future truly looked bleak.  His trouble was more than simply the loss of a job, of his ministry or of his rights.  He might soon lose his life.  Oh – but Christ was his life and Christ had defeated death by resurrection.  So even death could not take away his life.

            In our Tuesday sermon prep discussions, different pastors keep telling me of younger friends that have who feel like they don’t need anything more to have a good life.  They say, “I like things the way they are for me.”  I keep responding, “Tell them that they’re smart enough to know that it won’t last.  The best of cars rusts.  The best of investments can be lost.  The greatest of pleasures won’t fulfill.  And, even if we do ignore those facts, someday death will come.”  Paul, on of the most brilliant and best-educated people of his world, knew this.  And he had learned that when Christ is our life, even death is a gain – it ushers us into his unrestricted presence.     

            The word he uses for death in v. 23 (analuo), usually translated “depart”, is fascinating.  It was often used for a military squadron that had finished its task.  Having been away from home and in the midst of battle for a long time, it could depart and go home.  The word was used for the opportunity to go where they all wanted to go each day of their lives. 

It was also used for an imprisoned person who was pardoned by the emperor.  Who wants to be in prison – in chains?  We long for freedom.  The word Paul uses for death is a word used for being liberated – pardoned.  What a powerful word for a man who was in a Roman prison!  How much he longed for that.

The word was most often used for the opportunity to set sail and go on a trip.  It’s like going to LAX and seeing the sign, “Departure – 11:05.)  Paul, who had been on many trips knew that the greatest journey of all was still ahead of him.  He knew he might soon be going home.

Whereas so many people in our world ignore or feat death, the one who has Jesus as our life knows we only have joy ahead.  So, in terms of his own knowledge, Paul’s future was uncertain.  But Christ was his life.  So, to stay alive meant he would have further opportunity to serve Christ – and to die meant he would be with Christ.  I love his spirit, “Which shall I choose?  They’re both fantastic futures.”

So a church doing life together is a whole group of people who joyously declare, “For me to live is Christ.”  We come together to learn of him, to worship him, and to honor him.  For us to live is -- ____?  Not the size of our church.  Not the music of our church.  Not my small group.  All those are important – but they are secondary.  Did you see the picture of the St. Mary’s church in Joplin Mo that was destroyed in the recent tornado? 






In the second, only a cross stands – and the church still is because the Christ of the cross who is the life of the church still lives.  What that looks like in terms of our lives in the world will be next week’s them.  What that looks like in our church gatherings in the theme of Philippians 2.  I can hardly wait for us to look at these things together.

So, let me ask you again, “What is your life?”  What most closely competes with Christ as the center of your life.  What is it that you think, “If I don’t have that, I don’t even want to live!”  The only way truly to live – a life that cannot be eradicated – is to proclaim, “For me to live – Christ!”