When was the last time you read this scripture and just thought about the weight of the words? 

“For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].” Philippians 1:21 (AMP)

To be honest I have not read that scripture in a while, nor have I really thought about what it means and really considered the weight of the words since Jason passed away. Most people do not really want to focus on the death side of this scripture because maybe that makes them face their mortality or maybe it causes them to realize that there is more to life than our selfish ambitions. 

Let’s take a moment to look at this scripture because living like Christ is no easy task. He was after all 100% God and 100% man. He did not sin even though He put on a fleshy body and walked among us. He lived His life as an example for us. Yet we fail daily. I fail daily and even more often than that because of my flesh. Yet there are glimpses of other pieces that He intended for us to grasp in my daily life. I forgive, I love and I lean into the purpose He has called me to do during this season of my life. 

He also demonstrated for us that we are to spread the gospel. This does not mean we are all called to some foreign land to sleep in tents and possibly eat bugs, but it does mean that we should live our lives in such a way that when we encounter people that they see and feel the love of God. That we (for lack of a better word) ooze Jesus. Take a moment to think about the fruits of the spirit from Galatians 5:22-24 ESV “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” These are some of the traits that should be evident if we are living like Christ. 

But what about the second part of that scripture…to die is gain? That is hard to comprehend as a human. We know that when we die we take nothing with us. It stays here to be given away or divided up amongst our loved ones. So why is death viewed as gain? Maybe it is because we trade our flesh for a resurrected, heavenly body, maybe because we will no longer experience pain, sickness, sadness and all the other things this life brings? Maybe it is because there will no longer be disease, sickness and sin? Maybe it is because we will have the opportunity to spend eternity worshiping our Heavenly Father? Whatever the reason, the gain comes from viewing this earthly home and body as something temporary that we will eventually trade in for something eternal. That is the ultimate gain. 

I titled this “The Duality of Life” because we as Christians are foreigners in this land called earth. There is a daily reality of this duality of our life here on earth. We should alway be willing to lean in and experience more of this life because time is more precious with our family, friends, loved ones and community with each passing day. It seems lately that I know more and more people either fighting for their life or losing a battle to some disease. It is heartbreaking and it brings with it so many questions that I know I will not get the answers to this side of Heaven.

Yet, these people, myself and so many others are more aware of and continue to navigate this all too familiar duality of life. This duality means living in faith, believing in the power of healing miracles and also realizing that if death wins here on earth there is still victory because the ultimate prize is being able to spend eternity in heaven worshipping our Heavenly Father. Even experiencing this first hand with the loss of my father and the loss of my spouse I find that it is tough to understand all the “Why questions” and also understand that God has a larger view of humanity as well as a purpose and a plan regardless of what the enemy tries to do to alter it and even stop it. I like this passage from I Corinthians 15: 50-58 ESV:

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 

Friends, what does  the duality of life look like from your perspective? How do you navigate the challenges without allowing the enemy to halt your progress or interfere with your relationship with your Heavenly Father? Where in your life can you remain steadfast (what does that look like) or immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord?