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

Isaac Asimov tells the story of a rough ocean crossing during which a Mr. Jones became terribly seasick. At an especially rough time, a kindly steward patted Jones on the shoulder and said, “I know, sir, that it seems awful. But remember, no man ever died of sea-sickness.” Mr. Jones lifted his green countenance to the steward’s concerned face and replied, “Man, don’t say that! It’s only the wonderful hope of dying that keeps me alive.”

There’s more in Jones’ words than a touch of irony. I hear echoes of Paul’s words to the Philippians. He said that the wonderful hope of dying kept him going (Php 1:21). Yet he wasn’t merely looking for relief from his suffering. Paul’s hope was rooted in Christ, who died on the cross for sinners, who rose from the grave that first Easter morn, who was alive in heaven, and who would one day take Paul into His presence.

But how did the hope of seeing Christ, either at death or when He returned, keep Paul going? It gave meaning to every moment. It gave him reason to live in behalf of Christ. It gave him incentive to focus on others who needed his encouragement. Paul had come to know Christ as his very life.

Father, thank You for the risen Christ-our reason for living. -Mart De Haan

A wonderful joy is now flooding my heart,
Giving assurance that will not depart.
My Savior is living and reigning above;
Life has rich meaning because of His love. -Bosch

Those who are prepared to die are most prepared to live

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?—Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

Joy Davidman, the wife of C. S. Lewis, said, “Living for your own pleasure is the least pleasurable thing a person can do. If his neighbors don’t kill him in disgust, he will die slowly of boredom and powerlessness.”

It has also been said that the only cure for hedonism is to try to practice it. If you go after pleasure, you will quickly see the emptiness of it.

Of course, the pursuit of pleasure is nothing new. As Solomon reminds us a number of times in the Book of Ecclesiastes, when you boil it down, there is nothing new under the sun. Though our technology has changed and we have had certain advancements since Solomon wrote those words, the basic cravings of humanity have not changed. The basic things people look to have not changed either. The philosophy of “eat, drink, and be merry” has been with us for a long time.

Solomon once decided to pursue everything this world had to offer. Then he came to realize there was nothing to profit from under the sun. It was only when he looked above the sun and looked to God that he found the answers he was seeking. In other words, when we see God for who He is, we will see the world for what it is.

If you have a close relationship with God and are walking intimately with Him, then you will see this world for what it is. You will recognize the philosophies and concepts and ideologies our culture propagates that are contradictory to what the Bible teaches. And when you are walking closely with God, you will see the emptiness and the futility of the things people chase after.—by Greg Laurie

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.–1 Thessalonians 2:7-8   As I read the following article from Senior Living I couldn’t help but think of Roy Orbison’s haunting song,”Only The Lonely”. Hopefully after reading this we will all think more about those who are lonely.

From 1986 to 1990, Frank Reed was held hostage in a Lebanon cell. For months at a time, he was blindfolded, living in complete darkness, and chained to a wall, kept in absolute silence.

Reed was beaten, made ill, and tormented, but he felt the most hopeless because it seemed that no one cared. He said in an interview with Time magazine, “Nothing I did mattered to anyone. I began to realize how withering it is to exist with not a single expression of caring around [me]…. I learned one overriding fact: caring is a powerful force. If no one cares, you are truly alone.”

Christians are never truly alone because we are fortunate to have God’s gracious watch care over our lives, as well as that of the Church. This type of caring can provide the strength needed for a believer to endure anything.

Do you know someone who feels as though no one cares for them? Can you think of a few people right now who are living in loneliness? We have been called as believers to minister to those who are lonely. And in turn, we never have to be lonely because there are other believers who will care for us.

Remember the promise of Jesus: “—Verily I say unto you, Insomuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Ask the Lord to open the doors of opportunity for you to pour out love, care, and concern for someone who needs it, just as Jesus did.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” (Ps. 40:1)

Waiting is much more difficult than walking. Waiting requires patience, and patience is a rare virtue. It is fine to know that God builds hedges around His people–when the hedge is looked at from the viewpoint of protection. But when the hedge is kept around one until it grows so high that he cannot see over the top, and wonders whether he is ever to get out of the little sphere of influence and service in which he is pent up, it is hard for him sometimes to understand why he may not have a larger environment–hard for him to “brighten the corner” where he is. But God has a purpose in all HIS holdups. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,”– Psalm 37:23.

On the margin of his Bible at this verse George Mueller had a notation, “And the stops also.” It is a sad mistake for men to break through God’s hedges. It is a vital principle of guidance for a Christian never to move out of the place in which he is sure God has placed him, until the Pillar of Cloud moves.–Sunday School Times

“Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant… let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10

I have always been amazed at the advice worldly people give to someone who is hurting. “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!” Can you see someone dangling over a cliff, holding on to a rope, and trying to tie a knot? It takes two hands to do that!

The first thing we need to remember is “don’t demand to understand.” There are just some things in life you and I will never understand. When God allows darkness to overshadow your life, don’t set about lighting your own fire. That’s a recipe for heartache. Trust that His light will come and wait for it. He will come. Believe it.

There’s someone out there who is hurting today and needs more than a pat answer of encouragement. Give them the light of Christ. (By Adrian Rogers)