“For to me, to
live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this
will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.For
I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with
Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more
needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain
and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your
rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you
again.” Philippians 1:21-26
“To me to live is Christ” is
Christian life and experience in its fullness. It has often been remarked, and is
well worth remembering, that Christians have many experiences which are not
properly Christian experience. The man described in the 7th of Romans is
undergoing an experience which will be for his future blessing, but it ‘is not
proper Christian experience, though it is clearly enough the experience of a
Christian.
Christ Him self, so dominating and
controlling the believer, that his one object is to live to His glory, is what
Paul has before him here. This should be the experience of Christians at all
times. But, alas, how few of us enter into it in its entirety. It implies a
surrendered will, and the body yielded to the Lord who has redeemed it, that it
may be used
only to His praise This is life in its truest sense....
We may, perhaps, better understand the experience, ”For me to live is Christ,”
if we consider for a moment what life means to many another. The Christless
business man, whose one aim and object is to obtain wealth, might well say,
“For me to live is money.” The careless seeker after the world’s pleasures,
if he told the truth, would say, “For me to live is worldly pleasure.”
The carnal voluptuary given up ‘to self-gratification, would say, “For me to
live is self.” The statesman, exulting in the plaudits of the people, and
craving world-notoriety, might truthfully declare, “For me to live is fame
and power.”
But Paul could say, and every
Christian should be able to say, “For me to live is Christ.”
And it is only such who can heartily
add, “And to die is gain.” Death is no enemy to the one to whom
Christ is all. To live gives opportunity to manifest Christ down here; to die is
to be with Christ, than which nothing could be more precious.
The apostle himself was in a dilemma
as to which of these he would prefer, were the choice left to him. If permitted
to continue in the body, he would have further opportunity of service for Him
who had claimed him as His own and called him to this ministry. But, on the
other hand, he longed “to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.”
His had been a life of toil and suffering for Christ’s sake, such as
only a Spirit-sustained man could have endured without fainting; and as he
lay in the Roman prison, his heart longed for release—a release which would mean
to be forever with Christ. Labor for Christ was sweet, but rest with Christ
would be sweeter.
[Pastor] Whitefield used to say, “I
am often weary, in the work, but never weary of it,” and such was,
doubtless, the attitude of our apostle. He loved to serve, yet longed too for
the hour of release, with no selfish motive in it, for his one object
was Christ, whether in life or in death.
It is amazing how anyone, with words such as these before him, could question
for a moment that the Word of God teaches the consciousness of the spirit after
death. Paul had no thought that his spirit would be buried in the grave with his
body, or that his soul would sleep until the resurrection day. Death to him
would be a departure, an exodus, a moving out of the travel-worn earthly
tabernacle, and a going to be with Christ, until the first resurrection at the
coming of the Lord.
As he weighs everything, the
unselfishness of the man comes out strikingly. He sees the need of the Church of
God. As it is now, so it was then. There were many evangelists... but few
teachers and pastors who really carried the people of God upon their hearts; and
he felt that to abide in the flesh was more needful for the flock than rest was
for himself. So he says he has confidence that he should abide a little longer,
and continue in this scene of labor for the furtherance and joy of faith of the
people of God.
Thou my
everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee.
Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me over life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee,
Then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Hear the melody:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/l/closthee.htm