Today’s Encouragement is, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.” Philippians 1:21-24 NLT
Be With Christ –
We are hypocrites. We believe in Jesus, acknowledge that we have Eternal Life with Him, believe in His promise to take us to a place prepared for us, and believe that one day we will be with Him in rest, joy, and peace, forever. We believe all of this!
Yet we fight, with everything we have, to stay alive in this world! We act like dying is the worst thing that can happen to us—all the while believing that our Eternal Home is incomparably, immeasurably better. This makes no sense!
We recoil sharply at this thought and ask with shock, “Are you suggesting that we should all die? And we’d be better off dead?”
My friend, death has been defeated, and Jesus promised to take us to live with Him in His Father’s House! So, Yes! “Dying is even better.”
We have the Truth through Jesus! And our life here on earth is infinitely better through faith in Him than without Him. And, similarly, our life in The Father’s House with Jesus will be infinitely better than this earthly life!
Father, help us to see clearly the astounding truth. “Dying is even better!” Yet, until You decide, we will serve You here. Please help us to joyfully anticipate the bliss of being with Jesus, forever.
To Be With Jesus
Matthew West
https://youtu.be/z3HF5wSh9Ss?si=ANuk1fXVqV8tgGHu