Articles
Are You Hard Pressed Between the Two?
Struggling with the ghosts and monsters that glorify death at this time of year, many Christians focus on the delights of the Fall season instead. Rather, we have an opportunity with those who still fear death (or believe that’s the scariest thing in this life) to teach them that Jesus has conquered death (Philippians 1:19-24).
I. Hebrews 2:14-15. Though Paul was suffering in prison, he states that by his life or by his death, Christ would be glorified in his body. While we often place our comfort over our character, Paul had adopted God’s perspective on death, knowing, as the Hebrew writer says, that Jesus had destroyed the one who had the power of death and freed us from the slavery of the fear of death. Sadly, many love the world still (1 John 2:15-17) and live in their bondage to this fear.
II. Philippians 3:8-11. Paul knew that this temporary world could not offer what was ‘far better’ with Christ. Often, though, we assign eternal status to the temporary and work to live forever in this world that is passing away, becoming a friend to this world and an enemy to God (James 4:1-4). Looking to avoid the sufferings that Jesus endured while in this life, we exchange that which is ‘far better’ for worldly pleasures and so forfeit the resurrection.
III. 1 Corinthians 15:42-58. Unlike many today who have grown comfortable in this life, Christians should view, as Paul did, that our time here is for a purpose to have an impact on those around us. And, just as those who served others didn’t recognize that they were doing these things for Jesus when they did them for others (Matthew 25:37-40), we too must realize that time here is “necessary on [another’s] account” and abound in our work for the Lord.
So, how do you feel when someone dies in the Lord or think about your own eventual death? Do you fear death or are you joyful that you used the time that God has given you to live faithfully and play a role in getting others through the gates of heaven?
