For to Me, To Live Is …

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain …” ~ The Apostle Paul, Philippians 2:21

As a child, the thought of heaven baffled me. I’d consider the word “eternity,” that never-ending stretch of days. I couldn’t conceive enjoying something that would certainly be like one incredibly loooong church service. A perfect church service, maybe. But what, exactly, are we going to do? Forever is a very long time.

My brain still struggles to wrap itself around the expanse of eternity. In his book, Heaven, Randy Alcorn says our lack of anticipatory joy is a result of our gross misconceptions about heaven. We don’t understand the exquisite beauty, love and joy that will overtake us once we’re living in the light and presence of our God.

When I read Paul’s proclamation above, I’m envious. I think he is closer to that accurate vision of eternity than I am. Although I love God with my whole heart, though I desire to both know Him and be known by Him, I’d probably fill in the blanks of Paul’s sentence a little differently:

“For to me, to live is ______________________ and to die is _______________________.”

To live is to be with my children. To die is to miss out on their lives.
To live is to be married and enjoy my husband’s companionship. To die is to lose true love.
To live is to make provisions for our future. To die is to leave an uncertain legacy behind.
To live is to celebrate. To die is to see the party come to an end.
To live is to savor the people and things I have on earth. To die is to go to heaven and leave them behind.

There’s nothing wrong with loving family, celebrating life and being financially responsible. But have I set my eyes on eternity? Am I clinging to this life with both hands, or do I remember that the best is yet to come?

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body …”

Oh that we would be torn! That we would carry within a vision and longing for eternity that trumps every moment with a wave of anticipation for what is to come! How we love and live now is determined by what we believe is waiting for us then.

Take a minute to be as honest as you possible can. First, how would you fill in the blanks today? Second, if someone looked at the way you live your life, how would they fill in the blanks for you? And third, will you stop right now and ask God to give you a life-changing vision of eternity?