TO DIE IS GAIN
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: APPROPRIATE AMBITION
During a job interview at the 99 Cents store, my son was asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” My son’s reply: “At the Dollar Store.” He got the job. —A.K. via rd.com
B. TEXT
“21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain...” Phip. 1:21-25.
C. THESIS
1. To the people of this world, this Scripture may seem illogical and crazy. How can Paul say that “To die is gain?”
2. WHY ARE PEOPLE AFRAID TO DIE?
a. Fear the excruciating pain of death.
b. Fear of the unknown. We cling to what is known and are comfortable with.
c. Many believe there’s nothing after this life. So they are facing extinction.
d. They don’t want to leave their loved ones – separation.
3. They why did Paul say he desired to depart? We answer this question in this message, “To Die is Gain.”
I. THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH
People say, “Don’t we cease to exist when we die? Don’t we end all work, all relationships, and find ourselves consigned to a casket or an urn?
A. MEDICAL DOCTORS TELL OF AFTERLIFE
1. Raymond Moody, a medical doctor. Began collecting accounts of Near Death Experiences (NDE) and published his landmark book, Life After Life in 1975.
2. Later, Dr. Maurice Rawlings, a surgeon, recorded the experiences of people he resuscitated in the operating room in his book, Beyond Death’s Door.
3. Don Piper wrote, “90 Minutes in Heaven;” Bill Wiese wrote “23 Minutes in Hell;” Eben Alexander wrote, “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife.”
4. The fact that medical experts are saying there IS evidence of life after death should cause us to throw away our childish notions of only living for this life!
B. THE BIBLE & CHRIST CONFIRM THIS
1. The Bible does teach life after death. Jesus said, “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned” John 5:28-29.
2. Acts 24:15, “I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.”
3. Jesus said, “Then they [wicked] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” Matt. 25:46.
4. Both will be conscious after death (Heb. 12:1; Lk. 16:22-24; Rev. 6:9) and will continue living in their afterlife state permanently. For a Christian, this expectation is a sweet one.
5. At death the soul/spirit and body are separated. Our spirits are conducted by angels (Lk. 16:22) to paradise (2 Cor. 12:4; Lk. 23:43; Rev. 2:7) into the presence of Christ (2 Cor. 5:8). At the resurrection our bodies are raised, glorified, and reunited with our spirits (1 Cor. 15:42-54)
II. CHRISTIANS SHOULDN’T FEAR DEATH
A. CHRISTIANS RECEIVE A HIGHER FORM OF LIFE FROM JESUS CHRIST WHEN BORN AGAIN
1. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; behold, old things are passed away and behold, all things are become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.
2. The Bible tells us of a higher form of LIFE, called the Life of God, or eternal life. It flows from the Being of God, through Jesus Christ to us. Just as machines are animated and ‘come to life’ by electricity, so God’s LIFE spiritually quickens those who come to Christ.
3. The Bible tells us the manner in which the LIFE of God is imparted to us: through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. The Resurrection power in Jesus gives you also the power over death!
4. Only if you are “living for Christ” will you be able to say that to “die is gain!”
B. WHY ARE WE AFRAID TO DIE?
1. A Christian who doesn’t want to die makes me think of a baby in its mother’s womb who is fighting to stay in there! It doesn’t realize that when it comes out it will really be entering life!
2. I heard a joke about a man who, at a very advanced age, finally died and entered Paradise. He experienced all the wonder and joy of it. When he saw his wife, he said, “Why were you always making me eat all that bran and fiber! I could have gotten here a lot sooner!”
3. Paul called our current bodies “this VILE BODY” (Phip. 3:21). It’s like, right now we’re driving a beat-up jalopy and we’re going to get a Ferrari or Lamborghini. So why are we holding on to the jalopy so hard?
III. WHY “TO DIE IS GAIN”
Paul said “I desire to depart.” The word Paul used for “desire” is a strong one, epithumian. The same word is used, negatively, of strong lusts and controlling passions. How interesting that Paul would use such a strong word to describe his desire to depart! He pants, he longs to be gone! Shouldn't we? WHY IS DYING A GAIN?
A. WE GET A NEW BODY
1. In heaven we get a new body. Our earthly body has its problems – it get’s tired, feels pain, get’s sick, gets old, and it sags, our eyes dims, our ears dull, and things falls out (hair & teeth)!
2. Billions of dollars are spent every year to cover up, make up, lift up, pump up and shore-up the flaws in our bodies.
3. But in heaven we won’t need to do that anymore because – we’ll get a new body, a better one, an eternal one; one that doesn’t get tired, feel pain, get sick, sag or fall out...
B. WE’LL GET TO LIVE IN A CUSTOM BUILT HOUSE
1. “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me” John 14:2-3.
2. Most of our houses eventually do like our bodies – they begin to fall apart. But the Bible tells us about our houses in Heaven: “Eye has not seen or ear heard,” it will be nicer than anything we’ve ever seen or heard of!
3. God’s been working on it 2,000 years – so it must be pretty nice!
C. WE’LL GET TO EAT GREAT FOOD
1. Now, I’ve been to some great buffet’s... Ryans in Conroe, Chinese Buffets, Mexican Buffets, etc. But in heaven we get to eat better food than we ever ate on Earth.
2. Jesus said, “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” Mt. 8:11. It will be the “Mother” of all buffets!
D. WE GET TO SEE AND BE WITH OUR LOVED ONES
1. "...WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND ARE LEFT WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE AIR. AND SO WE WILL EVER BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER." 1 Thess. 4:13-17.
2. You’ll see your momma, your dad, your spouse, your child – all the wonderful Christians you’ve ever known, and there will never be any separations again!
E. WE’LL GET TO LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD
1. This world can get you down! But in that world there will no more temptation, taxes, trouble, trials, or suffering.
2. John tells us in Revelation about the heavenly city made of precious stones. He says that in that city there’s no need for a temple, for God and His son are there. It also has no need for the sunlight, for God’s glory and Jesus provide all the illumination that is needed. And there’s no more night or darkness.
3. And through the city flows the river of life, it is as clear as crystal, that brings life and healing to all who drink it.
4. It will be a perfect place to live. Paradise restored. No more sin or troubles. It will be more wonderful than you can dream of. The last great thing about it: no one will ever die there!
5. Best will be that we will be with Jesus! We shall see Him as He is. We’ll experience fulness of relationship with Him; now we see but in a glass darkly, then, face to face. We “shall be forever with the Lord” 1 Th. 4:17.
6. Imagine seeing the hand that was pierced for you, to kiss the lips that said, “I thirst.” To see the Face that shines like the sun, His eyes of love, be hugged by his arms, and to speak with HIM -- who loved us & died for us. What joy! “To be with Christ which is far better!”
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. On May 24, 1965, a 13½ foot boat slipped out of the marina at Falmouth, Massachusetts. It’s destination? England! It would be the smallest craft ever to make the voyage. Its name? Tinkerbelle. Its pilot, Robert Manry who felt that 10 years at the desk was enough boredom for a while.
2. Manry was afraid of people trying to talk him out of going, so he only told a few relatives, and his wife Virginia. The trip was anything but pleasant. He spent many sleepless nights trying to cross shipping lanes without getting run down. His food to become tasteless. Loneliness caused him to have hallucinations. His rudder broke three times. A storm swept him overboard & only a rope around his waist saved him. Finally, after 78 days he sailed into Falmouth, England.
3. He had fantasized about what he would do when he arrived: check into a hotel, eat dinner alone, & then see if perhaps the Assoc. Press would be interested in his story. Was he in for a surprise!
4. To his amazement, 300 vessels, with horns blasting, escorted Tinkerbelle into port. And 40,000 people stood screaming and shouting him to shore. Robert Manry, the copyeditor turned dreamer, became an overnight hero. His story was told around the world. [Chas. Swindoll]
5. That will be how it will be when you enter Heaven. Every little thing you’ve done for Jesus will be remembered and shouted from the rooftops!
B. THE CALL
1. “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
2. Well, if we live for Christ in this life, God promises us that even in death, we will triumph.
3.“To live IS Christ and to die IS gain.” The question is, have we made Christ the center of our lives? Do we have the LIFE of God? Let’s make sure we’re ready for that Day.
4. PRAYER.
