To Live Is Christ

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

Today, I read a devotional form one of the most influential spiritual leaders in my life – Pastor D. James Kennedy. He unpacked the Bible for all to understand the truths for our lives, both now and eternally through Christ. He asks, if someone asked you what you live for, how would you respond? Some people seem to live existentially for the moment, the people, places and things around me. Others live for their entertainment, excitement and the thrill. Still others live for the latest trend, cause or social media interaction. But Paul expresses the best way to live. He declares that to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Too often, people want to rewrite the verse, replacing “Christ” with “pleasure.” “For to me, to live is pleasure,” cry a whole host of voices today. But pleasures fade quickly, and this lifestyle leads to ceaseless striving for one more thrill, one more good feeling. What happens when the thrill is gone? I remember a family the was all caught up in their son’s sports. They would run from one sporting practice, game or events after another, literally having their son change uniforms and game shoes in the car in route. It consumed their “free time” entire life … until he fell and broke his arm. Life came to a stop and they didn’t know what to do. It was devastating to their family life, and you would have though that they would learn a life-lesson that there was more to life than pleasure, but when their son healed, they jumped right back into that same crazy lifestyle.

Others would replace “Christ” with “money.” “For to me, to live is money.” These people spend most of their waking hours, energy, and thoughts trying to make money and fortune. For them, money makes the world go around and the pursuit of happiness. Some of them desire to be truly wealthy, while others want just a little bit more than they presently have. A reporter once interviewed a fantastically wealthy man and asked him, “How much do you want?” The wealthy man replied, “Just a little bit more.” Do you live to gain wealth? If so, may I say that at the end of your life, your wealth will turn to ashes and somebody else spends your fortune, and you’ll find that the great deceiver has deceived you. I see millions of people in the world without clean water, adequate food, proper clothing and shelter, then shake my head at the millions of dollars wasted on frivolous non-necessities and pleasure spend daily. 

Others would say, “For to me, to live is fame.” They give their whole lives to accomplishment. Perhaps they rise to the top of the ladder. But then where are they? Many people who “make it” find themselves saying, “Is this all there is?” Like many who have risen to the pinnacle of success, they find nothing but the same emptiness that hounded them from the very beginning. I found this to be true for myself also, when I spent four concentrated years in my High School Varsity Basketball program, and after graduating, the playing and the fame was done and gone. The same realization happened when I retired from my Design Engineering career. That stage went from “top of the game” to not, none, nil and nada. I learned much about life in them, but they were not life. Later, as a baseball manager for kids, I made sure that these youth athletes understand that games and fame were a part of living, but not what life was about. Character is the best name you can make.

“For to me, to live is Christ.” Kennedy explains that this is the secret of life; the solid foundation that we build on. Furthermore, it is the secret of consecration (the act or ceremony of separating form a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God, by certain rites or solemnities. Consecration does not make a person or thing really holy, but declares it to be sacred, that is, dedicated and devoted to God or to divine service, which is your heartfelt desire), the secret of commitment. I do not believe that you could take the meaning of consecration and commitment and express them more succinctly than Paul has in those seven words. 

Today ask God to show you how to live so that you can say, “For to me, to live is Christ.” Then follow the way He shows you so that you may live a life consecrated and committed to Him. Live for Christ!