Having A Desire To Depart”
Phil. 1:21-24
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he becomes absorbed in a soul-disturbing conversation with himself. You remember his words....To be or not to be ? That is the question. Hamlet did not know whether it was more devastating to face the unavoidable afflictions of life or to fear the unknown agonies of death. Paul’s words concerning life or death are much more refreshing. He says “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain”. Paul at the very writing of this letter to the Philippian believers is in a Roman dungeon chained perhaps between two Roman soldiers. He describes his situation as “in a strait betwixt two” He is literally hemmed in or confined by his surrounding. But spiritually he is speaking of life and death ?
Before his death French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre concluded that life was empty, tasteless, and without purpose. But to Paul...life has meaning, life has significance, life has purpose ! There are things that still need doing.....work gone unfinished. Notice v24. “to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. But, Paul knows that death lurks on the horizon. He realizes that is quite likely that he will never be free again, and even more likely that he will suffer death at the hands of the Roman officials.
I want us to digest a portion of Paul’s writings to the Philippians this morning. There is so much contained in a small phrase that Paul uses here. It describes how Paul looks at his impending death. Notice the phrase in V23 “having a desire to depart” The word desire literally means passionate desire ! If Paul lives he will live for Christ as he has....if Paul dies he is confident, ready, prepared ! How can he stand in the shadow of death with such peace, and assurance ? For this reason, to depart means to be with Christ, which is far better...(GR. So Much Better)
Focus with me on the word “depart” The greek word used here is a marvelous word, and used in describing certain events.
Listen to its uses.
1. It is a nautical term. The term “depart” or “parting” was used by sailors who pull up their anchors so that their ships can set sail for another port.
What a beautiful picture of death for the child of God
Visualize....a ship...it’s anchor pulled from the waters...its sails set...it departs from one port...from one harbor....it’s destination.
2. It is a military term. The term “depart” was a word used by soldiers when they would pull up the stakes, and fold up their tents so that they could move to another campaign. Paul was a tent maker. In his writings,
he described the physical body as a tent...it is in the sense that it is only a temporary dwelling place. One day that stakes will be withdrawn...this tent will be folded up....and our soul will move on. For the child of God...all battles will be over...peace forever more.
3. It is a legal term. The word “depart” is used to describe the releasing of a prisoner. Paul is imprisoned literally....whether he will be ever free from the Roman dungeon to continue his life...he does not know at this time...but he does know that one day just as a prisoner is freed from shackles, and chains...and the prisons doors are open...that so to will he be free from the sin, the sorrow, the sadness, the situations that sometimes act as shackles in this life.
Song: Like a bird from prison...I have flown....I’ll fly away !
4. It is a agricultural term. Used by farmers to describe the unyoking of an oxen. When this takes place the oxen that was harnessed is free from its burdens.....one day Paul knows that he will lay down all his heavy burdens...and be transformed !
How can Paul envision death in such a way ?
I. Because of the Person that he shall go to.
Illust. Soldier terribly wounded...Dr. told him he needed surgery but his chances of survival were only one in a hundred. What would you like for me to do ? Go on with it Dr. was his reply. Later after the soldier fully recovered...he was asked how he could face the situation with such calmness, and confidence...he said...I knew whichever way it went that there would be a welcome for me. If I lived I knew my Mom would be here to welcome me.. and If I died that Jesus would welcome me ! Paul knows that for him to die is gain....that for him to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Song: It will be worth is all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ,
One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race, til we see Jesus.
II. Because of the Place he shall arrive at.
Illust. A man, and his little girl were out walking one night. The moon was full...and the stars were just magnificent. The little girl turned to her father and said....If the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful...what shall the right side be ? The beauties of this earth shall not be comparable to the beauty of heaven.....All the wonderful places of the earth shall pale in comparison to the place that God has prepared for those who know him !
Illust. Lowell Thomas was a premiere newscaster for decades. At the time of his death in 1981 a reporter from the UPI wrote.....He was the first man to broadcast from a ship, from an airplane, from a coal mine, and from a submarine. His reporting work took him to both poles, and almost everywhere in between....the reporter then went on to write that he was sure that when the guardian angel saw Lowell Thomas striding towards the Pearly gate that he said.....Here comes Lowell Thomas....he’s been everywhere else ! But there is no other place like heaven !
a. place of rest..........b. place of restoration.........c. place of relief.
III. Because of the Peace he shall enjoy.
Paul suffered much affliction after his conversion. He was persecuted, beaten, now imprisoned......but with death comes peace that will endure throughout eternity. No matter our struggles here......heaven is going to be worth it all because we shall live in peace. The believer is just a pilgrim here. This world is not our home.......heaven is our home !
IV. Because of the People that await him.
Paul had loved ones gone on to be with the Lord.........fellow believers......but most of all I believe that Paul could look at death with peace because he knew that one day soon he would see the Lord that he first met on the road to Damascus face to face.
Oh......it will be worth it all when we see Jesus !
Joke:
After a long illness, a woman died and arrived at the
Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for Saint Peter
to greet her, she peeked through the Gates. She saw
a beautiful banquet table. Sitting all around were her
parents and all the other people she had loved and who
had died before her. They saw her and began calling
greetings to her, “Hello! How are you! We’ve been
waiting for you! Good to see you!”
When Saint Peter came by, the woman said to him,
“This is such a wonderful place! How do I get in?”
“You have to spell a word”, Saint Peter told her.
“Which word?” the woman asked.
“Love.”
The woman correctly spelled L-O-V-E and Saint Peter
welcomed her into Heaven.
About six months later, Saint Peter came to the woman
and asked her to watch the Gates of Heaven for him
that day. While the woman was guarding the Gates of
Heaven, her husband arrived. “I’m surprised to see you”,
the woman said. “How have you been?”
“Oh, I’ve been doing pretty well since you died,”
her husband told her. “I married the beautiful young nurse
who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won
the lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and
bought a big mansion. And my wife and I traveled all
around the world. We were on vacation and I went
water skiing today. I fell, the ski hit my head, and here I am.
How do I get in?”
“You have to spell a word”, the woman told him.
“Which word?” her husband asked.
“Czechoslovakia.”
One day God will call each of us to stand before him. Are you prepared for that day ?
The only way that you can have the peace that Paul had about death, and standing before the Lord is by knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior. Have you personally repented of your sins, and asked him into your heart.....trusting him to save you ? If not, would you come this morning and receive him by faith ?
Paul writes that life has a purpose, and that death is not permanent.
One day....like a ship we shall sail away......?
One day....like a soldier this tent shall be folded up....
One day....like a prisoner who walks thru the open door...we shall walk through death’s door...
One day....like the oxen we can lay down our heavy burdens.
