A Great Approach To Life - Paul

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Philippians 1:21

A bank in New York State once asked a florist to send a card and flowers to a competitor who had recently moved into a new building. Somehow, the florist sent the wrong arrangement and a card that read, “With our deepest sympathy.”

If the florist felt embarrassed over his error, he felt even worse when he realized where he had sent the flowers and card intended for the bank. That card went to a funeral home preparing for a memorial service. It read, “Congratulations on your new location!”

Though most people put death near the top of their list of fears, death for the believer is nothing more than moving on to a new location—their eternal home in heaven. The apostle Paul took that approach to both death and life.

As he wrote to the Philippian church from a Roman prison cell, Paul faced the distinct possibility of death, but there is no hint of fear in his letter to the Philippians, only declarations of love, joy, peace, and celebration.

Paul knew the benefits of both life and death. He knew that if he lived, he could continue his work and fellowship with the Philippians. If he died, he would simply move on to his new location, the eternal home that God had prepared for him (see Philippians 1:21-24).

Paul couldn’t decide which of those options he preferred.

Although he suffered immensely for the cause of Jesus Christ, Paul never feared anything that life threw his way. He had been threatened with death, beaten to within an inch of his life, and arrested, but he never forgot that God superintended everything that happened to him and that life and death held equally wonderful advantages.

What a great approach to living!

When you live free from fear of death or life, you never have to worry about what lies ahead. Instead, you get to enjoy both the earthly and the heavenly benefits of fellowship with Jesus Christ.