What Does the Christian Gain When They Die?
When we speak of funerals we usually don’t think of gaining anything do we? The word gain is usually not in our funeral vocabulary. Most of the time we speak of our loss – and that is what we concentrate on. People tell us how sorry they are for our loss. In fact when a person dies we say that they lost their life. We have a flood of emotions – sadness – grief – some times anger and regret. We have those emotions because we have lost something. We have lost fellowship with __________, and it hurts. We will not be able to sit and visit with ________ again in this life – and that hurts. There is pain when we loose a loved one. But did you know there is one verse in the Bible that uses the word gain when it speaks of death.
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
When I read this verse I had to look up the word gain in the dictionary and find out the meaning of it. Do you know what I found? Gain means something is acquired – something is taken possession of – gain means to increase – get an advantage. It’s quite different then the way we normally look at death – isn’t it?
We do talk about gaining a little though don’t we? I’ve already heard family members say that _________ is in a better place. That is a statement of gain. If a person has the right relationship with Jesus when they die they gain several blessings. You see - Paul is writing as a Christian when he says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Jesus has promised a multitude of blessings to those who believe in Him when they die. No - not money or fame or fortune – but blessings unimaginable. Let me tell of at least four blessing that the Christian gains when they die.
Blessing #1: We Gain AN INCREDIBLE LIFE.
In this present body we are subject to the joys and disappointments of life. We are subject to the growing process of life as well as the aging process. Sometimes we are healthy sometimes we get sick. Sometimes we feel pleasure sometimes we feel pain. Sometimes we are happy sometimes there is sorrow. When we get to heaven it will not be that way.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)
We will no long experience life as we once knew it. We will be different.
Blessing #2: We Gain AN ETERNAL LIFE.
All of us live in a world where family relationships change. Mother is gone or Father is gone. Uncles and Aunts – Grandparents – they all grow older and die. But that does not happen in Heaven. There is no ageing process. There is no death. We live forever. Most of know John 3:16 – but how often do we really trust in the last phrase of that verse?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
Blessing #3: We Gain A GLORIOUS HOME.
No matter how beautiful and elaborate your home my be in this world it is nothing compared with the home God has prepared for us.
1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 (NKJV)
Blessing #4: We Gain PERFECTION.
How can I say this? Because the Bible teaches that we “Become Like Christ” when we go to heaven with Him and see Him face to face. What is Christ like? He is perfect.
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
We shall see Him in all of His perfection. We shall see Him in all of His glory. We shall become like Him.
We have come today because we have suffered loss and it hurts. But we also must also realize what ________ has gained. “Oh death where is thy sting, oh death where is the victory – for me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
