TO DIE IS GAIN


Philippians 1:21


Paul says, "For me to die is gain." Now go back if you will to Philippians 1 and verse 21, and look at it. "For to me to live is Christ," that's the heads, now here's the tail. "To die is gain, but if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose I wot not." Now what does that mean, I wot not? It just simply means, "I don't know." "For I am in a straight betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." Now he says, "I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better." Now that literally means that which is very much, very far better. That doesn't sound like it's good English, but they tell me it's good Greek. What that means is that he's piling up comparatives. He's saying it's really, really very far much better to be with Christ. What we call death is not a tragedy, it's a blessing. Look at the word "depart." Let me tell you what that word depart means. It was a term that sailors used. It was a term for the unmooring of a ship. When a ship would set sail, the departure of that ship is the word that the Apostle Paul used here. Now when a ship would go out of the harbor, people would stand in that harbor and they would watch that ship sail over the horizon. Have you ever done that and seen a ship just slip over the horizon? So the people in that harbor say as the ship embarks and goes over the horizon, there she goes. But somewhere, there's another harbor and that ship appears on the horizon and they say, Here she comes. Now listen, not only was it a nautical term, it was a military term. When soldiers would fold up their tent and move on to another campaign, the very taking down of the tent, the very folding up of the tent was the same word that is used here, to depart. Not only was it a term that sailors used, and not only was it a term that soldiers used, it was a term that politicians used. It was a political term. It was used for the setting free of a prisoner. When a prisoner was released from jail, this same word was used, a departure. I'll tell you what else it was. It was a farmer's word. When the farmer would unburden the ox at the end of the day, when he would take the yoke from off the
oxen, when he would lay aside that yoke, he used this same word. It was the departure or a laying aside of
the yoke. The apostle Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Like that ship, I'm sailing into another port. And like that soldier, I'm just going to pull up the tent pegs. And like that prisoner, I'm going to be set free. And like that oxen, I'm going to lay down the burden. I am going home with God. That's a truth to die by.

Death to the child of God is our friend. A friend is someone who helps you. Death is friend to the child of God simply because it introduces us to pleasures for evermore and fullness of joy. "Willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
TO DIE IS GAIN

I. Because of the PERSON to whom it takes us (23) "with Christ" -
It is a blessed life when we live in His abiding presence, but is far better life when we live in His actual presence. Psalm 16:11 There is coming a time when we shall "ever be with the
Lord." "Willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord," (II Corinthians 5:8).
To die is gain for the Christian because of the person to whom it takes you. There is nobody like Jesus.

There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No not one, no not one. There is not an hour that He is not near us. No not one, no not one.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ; One glimpse of His dear face All sorrow will erase, So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

The light of heaven is face of Jesus.
The joy of heaven is the presence of Jesus.
The song of heaven is the name of Jesus.
The theme of heaven is the work of Jesus.
The employment of heaven is the praise of Jesus.
The fullness of heaven is the Person of Jesus.

II. To die is gain because of the PLACE to where it brings us
Heaven....to depart from this land means that the
Christian arrives in a better land.

There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

There everlasting Spring abides,
And never-with' ring flowers;
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
This heavenly land from ours.

A. It is a place of reality
It is a better country for stability (Hebrews 11:14,16)
It is a continuing city for security (Hebrews 13:14)
It is a divine paradise for serenity (Luke 23:43)
It is the Father's house for satisfaction (John 14:2)

There's a land that is fairer than day
And by faith we can see it afar
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.

B. It is a place of rest
Revelation 14 John describes those who reject Christ as Saviour and says that in death they have no rest day or night. However, two verses later he writes about those who die in the Lord and says that they
"rest from their labors."

O land of rest, for thee I sigh
When will the moment come
When I shall lay my armor by,
And dwell in peace at home.

C. It is a place of release
Heaven is not only wonderful because of the who and what will be there, but it is also wonderful because of
who and what will not be there. Released from all physical afflictions, handicaps, diseases, anxieties, aliments, trials, and temptations. No more cough, no more cancer, and no more consumption. No sin, no sorrow, and no sickness shall darken the sky on the heavenly shore. No taxes are paid and no rent collected. It is a land free from war and bloodshed. It is land free from shadows, sighing, and struggles.

Now our eyes are often dimmed,
Tear-stained with the trials of life.
But we know in that "long home,"
We'll know no blighting pain and strife.

1. Land that is beyond death
2. Land that is beyond defilement
3. Land that is beyond degeneration
4. Land that is beyond destruction

III. To die is gain because of the PROVISION to which it gives to us
(Matthew 5:12)
Sometime after the rapture of the saints, God will offer several crowns to His faithful servants.

A. Incorruptible crown (I Corinthians 9:25) for those who, by His grace, have mastered the old man
B. Crown of rejoicing (I Thessalonians 2:19,20) for those who have been faithful in the matter of soul-winning.
C. Crown of life (James 1:12) for those who endure trials.
D. Crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8) for those watch for His appearing.
E. Crown of glory (I Peter 5:4) for those who have
served as a faithful shepherd..
How will the rewarded believers respond to such an honor given in that day by the Lord Jesus Christ? In Heaven they will worship and honor Him by giving the crowns back to Him. What disappointment will be ours
if we have no crown to give Him!

IV. To die is gain because of the PEOPLE to whom it unites us (Revelation 7:9)
We shall meet again! Heaven is a place of reunion. This future meeting of God's children is so unlike our family reunion on earth. To begin with, all who will go to the reunion in Heaven have become God's people by being born into His family. No unsaved relatives will be there. Almost every year when the families of earth gather for their reunions there are empty chairs. One or more of the family has entered eternity. No family reunions on earth end without some sad farewells, but in heaven no one will ever say good-bye. However, when god's people meet on earth, it is never for the last time, for they shall meet in Heaven if not again o earth.

Conclusion:
If you are not a Christian, then you cannot say as Paul,
"To die is gain."
Gain because
of the person to whom it brings us
of the place to where it takes us
of the provision to which it gives us
of the people to whom it unites us