Living and Dying for Him

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

These words of Paul are certainly true for him, and should be true for all of us who follow Christ.

At the time these words are written, Paul is very aware of the profound possibility of his death at any time. He had been beaten, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, and left for dead. Those are just a few of the calamities of his life. It didn't matter to him. He was a servant of the Lord and that was most important. Like the other Apostles he was willing to die for Christ. Whether he lived or died, it was all for his Lord and Savior. After a long imprisonment in Rome, church historians agree that Paul was eventually tortured and then beheaded by the evil emperor Nero in 67A.D.

All the other Apostles died harsh deaths or suffered greatly for their faith, too. Matthew was martyred by sword in Ethiopia. Mark died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being drug by horses through the streets, and Luke was hung in Greece. Peter was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. John was boiled in oil, miraculously survived that, and banished to Patmos, he escaped there and died many years later as the Bishop of Edessa in Turkey. James, the son of Alphaeus was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple, and when he survived that he was beaten to death with a club. James the son of Zebedee was beheaded in Jerusalem. Nathanael (Bartholomew) was flayed to death by whips in Armenia. Thomas was impaled by a spear in India. Andrew was beaten severely, and then was tied to an x-shaped cross until he died. Jude was slain with arrows. Matthias (replaced Judas Iscariot) was stoned, and then beheaded.

Seems to me since they were spread all over the known world, and died like they took the Great Commission serious, and with Paul agreed that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Nobody said it would be easy. But very few consider how hard it could be and that they would be committed enough to face whatever true discipleship might cost. Interesting considerations.

Can you say that for you to live is Christ and to die is gain? I spoke those words to Stan Spaulding as I left him today. I know he has said them, and lived them, and believes them. So, how about you?

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain,
Pastor Fred

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