To live is Christ...

September 22, 2024
Scripture: Philippians 1:19-26

Introduction:
The remarkable aspect of Paul's life is that he clearly grasped both his destination and what he needed to do in the present. For Christians, the ultimate destination is heaven, and faithfulness to the Lord’s word is required until we reach that destination.

When we go on a trip, we enjoy the journey. However, trips are temporary, and we do not belong to the destination. Eating delicious food in Japan or soaking in a relaxing hot spring is only for a brief moment. Eventually, the time will come for us to return to where we truly belong. But when we travel for a long time, we sometimes forget where our true home is. The journey starts to feel like reality, and reality begins to feel like a dream.

We originally dwelt with God, but over the long course of life on earth, we have forgotten everything. Now, we often think that life on earth is all there is. However, the time will come when we return to God.

It is essential to always remember that this life will eventually end and that everyone will stand before God. The timing of when we will depart from this life is determined by God, not by us. God ends our earthly life through things like aging, illness, or sometimes accidents. Some people die unexpectedly, while others continue living even when death seems imminent. This is because God determines the length of our lives. In the end, we will be asked how we spent the time we were given. We are not the owners or CEOs of our lives, but rather managers or stewards. The question will not be how successful we made the business, but rather whether we were faithful to it.

Now, today's Bible passage contains the famous phrase, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Let’s explore what this means together.

I. Christ as the Main Focus of Life
Philippians 1:19: "For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance."
Paul believed that his life would unfold according to the Lord’s plan, but he also believed that prayer could change the course of his life. These two concepts may seem contradictory, but in God’s plan, they are not. Prayer is not a means to fulfill our own desires, but rather to accomplish God's will. For Paul, it was more important to live according to God’s will than to be physically saved. This is evident in verse 20.

Philippians 1:20: "It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death."

In this verse, we see Paul's principle for living. He shifted his focus from using his life for himself to using it for God. In other words, he prioritized God's will over his own desires. He wasn’t hoping for freedom from prison or rejoicing in it but praying that he could continue to serve God faithfully.

II. Faithfulness Over Longevity in Life
Life is precious and important, but how we use it defines who we are. Some people use their lives for “eating, sleeping, and enjoying,” while others use their lives for “God and others.” While the difference may seem small in this world, after death, it will be significant. Paul desired faithfulness over a long life.

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

This means that Paul lived for Christ. And to die meant to enter into God’s rest, which was something to be thankful for. From this, we understand two things.

First, to live means to work. Everyone works to live. Especially in Japan, where pensions are low, people are expected to work until their very last days. Young people may want to retire early, but ironically, older people wish to continue working because work gives them a sense of purpose. Without it, they might not know what to do with their days. If this is true in the world, how much more so for Christians, for whom life is the time given by God to do His work. That work is not necessarily becoming a pastor or missionary, but simply living each day seeking God’s will. If we sense something aligns with God's will, we should act on it.

Recently, while traveling, I attended a church service. I participated as a guest, at the church where my mother regularly attends. Interestingly, it turned out to be the church of a dear friend of Wil Hoshizaki’s girlfriend, along with her family. I met the current Chinese pastor there, and it was also the church that helped during my father’s funeral. Many years ago, when my parents were seeking to become Christians, they were looking for a good church. On a rare Sunday off from work, they visited a church, which turned out to be their second choice after an earlier visit to another one where no one spoke to them after the service. However, at this church, a kind missionary warmly welcomed them, which led my parents, and later my brother and niece, to join the church. God's plans often don’t align with our desires, but He uses faithful believers to carry out His plans.

The second point is that dying is a gain. People in the world do not know what happens after death, so they fear it. Since they believe this life is everything, they cling to it. They find value in living as long as possible and pity those who die young. However, the Bible teaches that a Christian's death is simply the opening of the door to heaven. This does not mean we should wish for death, but that we should not fear it unnecessarily. When physical health deteriorates, it can seem easier to die than to live. But if the Lord keeps us alive, it means there is still work for us to do. We must remain faithful to that work until the end.

III. Choosing the More Meaningful Option
Even for Paul, life and death were not choices he could make. These two options are usually not under our control. Paul understood this. What we learn here is not so much about whether to choose life or death, but rather the principle of what we should base our decisions on.

Philippians 1:24: "But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account." Philippians 1:25: "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith."

Paul's decision-making criterion was the work of the church. More specifically, it was his desire to help the Philippian church through their difficult times, even though it wasn’t necessarily a choice that would bring him personal comfort or joy.

We constantly battle between the desires of the flesh and the guidance of the spirit. Even when we know what is right, we struggle to act because sin still resides within us. Thus, it is difficult to make decisions freely. We are always influenced by either the desires or the weaknesses of the flesh.

Recently, I’ve been watching “Words of Wisdom” from prominent figures on YouTube occasionally. Most of the content conveys the idea that "choosing the harder path is often the better choice." For students, this might mean choosing "to study or to play," and for working adults, "to work diligently or just do the bare minimum of what's asked." The easier option is, of course, the latter. However, successful people are those who say, "I chose the harder path on purpose, and that’s why I became successful." As a survival strategy, this is not incorrect because our flesh always tries to lead us toward the easier choice.

Often, God's will also involves taking the harder road rather than the easier one. However, a life of asceticism and living according to the Bible are two different things. For Christians, the key point is whether something pleases God or not. Asceticism finds value in self-denial, but in and of itself, it has no real meaning; it’s merely self-satisfaction. We, as Christians, must always be mindful of our fleshly desires and weaknesses, avoiding them while ensuring that what brings God joy becomes our joy as well.

Paul writes, "For the progress of your faith and your joy." Paul believed it was important to pass on his knowledge and faith to the people of the Philippian church. He also believed this was God's will, and so he desired to go to Philippi rather than die.

Living for God is very simple. But in practical terms, it involves many applications. Living for others also connects to living for God because that is an expression of loving your neighbor. Living for God's glory doesn't mean just singing praises all the time; it's also about consistently making choices that please God and desiring to do so.

During my recent trip to Japan, I met with a friend from middle school. A few years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer, so I thought he might pass away soon. However, I was surprised to hear that he is now healthy and has even traveled abroad. Due to his weakened immune system from cancer treatments, he said he takes great care of his health. Jokingly, he said, "I can’t die until I treat you to a meal," to which I responded, "You can’t die until you believe in the Gospel." Upon reflection, I realized that "living for others" is a valuable perspective for Christians as well. When we shift from a self-centered life to a God-centered one, the crucial point becomes, "Am I living for others?"

Making choices in life is not easy. Sometimes, we make mistakes. Even decisions we think are good may turn out to be wrong. But life is like a game — as long as we win in the end, it's fine. And the guidance to win is given to us daily through the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray. We can learn from Paul’s life about how to live like our Lord Jesus. Paul shaped his life to become more like Christ. He viewed his life as time given by God, and in that time, he sought to walk faithfully according to God's will. Please help us to do the same, using the time we are given for God's work. And, when we face various choices in life, we ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us. Help us to seek Your will above our own desires.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.