Have you thought about what it will be like to be with Christ after you die? (One of you is going to say, “Didn’t they write a song about that?”) It’s true. I can only imagine what it will be like to see Jesus face to face. But as amazing as that will be, the reality is that we still have to depart this world. And for each of us that means death.

Life or Death

Paul reflected on this reality in his letter to the Philippians. In the first part of his letter he expressed his confidence in Christ and his desire to honor him whether by his life or by his death (1:20). At this time in his life Paul felt the weight of death. Would he have to die for his faith in Christ? Or would he continue to live and be fruitful in his labor (1:22)?

I Choose Death

Check out what Paul really wanted.

“My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (1:23).

How many of us could say the same thing? Sure, most of us would agree that it would be awesome to be with Jesus! But is Christ so valuable to us that we would be willing to die this day to be with him? Is He far better than our next breath?

The Value of Jesus

For Paul, He was. This life, as wonderful and joy-filled as it can be, is far less than Christ himself. Paul didn’t love this world too much. He was filled with hope and joy in Christ! His hope and joy was not in this life. This life is filled with opportunities to be faithful in service to God, but it is not all there is. There is more. There is Christ.

I want to love Christ so much that being with him means more than all of the pleasures of this world. I don’t want to love anything more than Christ. All that I can experience in this life is pale in comparison with knowing Jesus. My desire is to depart and be with Christ. That is far better.

What about you?