If death is gain, then why do we struggle so much to go on living? Is it that, faith aside, deep down we fear death? I think that is true to a degree. That is, we fear the unknown, the procedure of how we go from living flesh and bone to spirit. We don’t know all the steps, how it feels, or what the experience is like.
If you are a Christian, to die is undoubtedly to gain. In Christ’s presence is fullness of joy. While we are always in His presence, as with all things earthly, this is a shadow of the real joy that awaits. Perfect health, perfect peace, and perfect love radiating from our spirit that wants for nothing while living face-to-face with God lies just across the threshold.
Why not rush to claim it? Isn’t death and its gain the ultimate will of God for our lives? Absolutely. Nevertheless, it is not the immediate will of God. The will of God for us at every moment is to emulate Christ. Christ chose to live a life on earth in service to others. He could reclaim heaven and His place at the right hand of God at any time. He chose to fulfill His calling.
Heaven awaits us. It waits to allow us an opportunity to emulate Christ in this life. To fulfill that calling is our offering to the Father. The only real opportunity to do that is right now. Thus, as Paul said, “to live is Christ”. For the joy that awaits, we take the high, yet difficult, road fraught with insult and injury.
I’ve read the horrific scenes in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs and still say that living a full life which imitates Christ is more difficult than dying for Him. I say that because I’m weak and there are times I would have preferred death, considering it the easier path.
Every morning we rise, every day we live is a courageous act. We could have it so easy, yet we deny ourselves for another day to be made more like Christ. We celebrate soldiers for their service to our country. Soldiers of the Cross, you who live each day, are celebrated in heaven.
Maranatha
