The Only Life Where Death is Gain

From a very young age, humans are taught to count the cost before they do something. As a child, before you grab a candy bar at the gas station, you count your loose change and make sure that you have enough to pay for the candy bar. As we get older our purchases begin getting bigger and more expensive and the $1 candy bar turns into $100 dollar sneakers or clothes and we have to count the cost. Is this thing worth 5/6 hours of my time working at my job? Is this activity with my friends worth what it will cost me to attend and go? We count the cost daily in our lives in material ways… But we also have to count the cost in immaterial ways too. Is it worth it to stand up for what is right whenever everyone else is doing what is wrong? Is it worth it to read my Bible at 6am instead of sleeping in? Is it worth it to train my child up in the fear and admonition of the Lord? Is it worth it to fully trust in God’s good and perfect plan for my life? Are these things worth the cost associated with them?

Following Jesus will cost you. It might cost you a friendship, but it will definitely cost you your former way of living because Christ gives you a new heart with new desires. Standing on the Word of God will cost you your reputation in the eyes of a culture that views the Bible as a collection of old stories that are outdated. Getting up early to read your Bible will cost you hours of sleep. Raising your child in the instruction of the Lord will cost you weekend trips that other families make as you attend church. It will cost you to not go to certain events that promote an anti-Christian worldview. It will cost you to die to yourself and live for Christ. The question that we have to ask ourselves this morning is simply this: Is following Jesus worth the cost?

Thus far in the book of Philippians Paul has been talking about the hope that he has because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has shared with us the joy that he has because of what Jesus has done. Even in prison, Paul looks at the good instead of the bad. For Paul, the cost of following Jesus (prison and persecution) is worth it. Today as we get to verses 18-26 we find that Paul takes his argument a step further as he shares that not only is living for Jesus worth it. Dying for Jesus is even better than living for Jesus. As we look at this text of Scripture on Father’s Day of all days, we find one of the greatest declarations in the New Testament: to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Dad’s naturally give advice to their kids. Dad’s give good advice and I pray that you had a father who invested in you with good, Biblical advice… But dad’s here’s the best advice that you can give your children - live for Jesus. Live for an audience of one. Live a life that glorifies Jesus. Live a life that is laser focused on eternity. Live a life that demonstrates the love of Jesus and encourages others. Don’t boast in yourself - boast in your God. That is the what every child, big and small, young and old, boy and girl needs to hear. We don’t need to hear more about how awesome we are - we have grandparents for that - we need to hear how awesome Jesus is and how we need to live for Him. Following Jesus every step of the way is the only type of life that will lead to hope and unending joy. Following Jesus is always worth the cost!

Let’s read this morning

Philippians 1:18–26 CSB

18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

Live a Life that Glorifies Jesus (18-20)

Jesus calls us to follow Him. He calls us to repent of our sins/deny ourselves. He calls us to walk as a new creation and to trust in Him to provide for us. Paul is in a situation where he’s in prison and these preachers are preaching the right Gospel with the wrong motives… Yet, he doesn’t play the “why” game with God - he rejoices that Christ is proclaimed and he rejoices that Christ will be glorified in the way that he lives his life. Think about the way that you live your life and the choices that you make for a moment.

There has been a lot of research done on getting a family into a church and getting a family serving in the church. If you catch a child and if the child goes on to accept Christ as Lord and Savior there’s a small chance that you’ll catch the rest of the family. If you catch the mom and she goes on to accept Christ as Lord and Savior, you have a 17% chance of catching the rest of the family… But if you catch the dad and he accepts Christ as Lord and Savior, you have a 93% chance of catching the rest of the family. On this day where we pause and celebrate our father’s, dad’s here is your charge! We all are called to live a life that glorifies Christ. Church, pray for the men of Dent County to come to know Christ and to live a life that brings glory to Jesus just as Paul is doing in this passage in prison. Pray that we as individuals and as a corporate body would live a life that honors Christ - even if it means that bad things happen to us. See, even if proclaiming the Gospel and glorifying Jesus got Paul killed, he was content with it. His goal in life was not the latest and greatest gadget or the highest paying job or the fanciest looking truck… Paul’s goal in life wasn’t to get famous or to get his name plastered on a billboard with his lifetime batting average. Paul’s goal in life was to glorify Jesus as 1 Corinthians 10:31 shares with us

1 Corinthians 10:31 CSB

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

The only way to live a life where death truly is gain is to live a life that brings glory and honor to Jesus Christ. The only way to live in this life is to live for someone else. As you live in this life, as a Christian, you do so not focused on the here and now exclusively… You do so, second, focused on eternity.

Live a Life that is Focused on Eternity (21-23)

This world has lots to offer - how many of you have been to the Rocky Mountains? They say that we live in the Ozark mountains… We live in foothill country, not mountain country. If you go to Colorado or Wyoming or Utah you undoubtedly have seen some massive mountains that stretch into the sky above the clouds! They’re beautiful and breathtaking. If you’re not a mountain person perhaps you’re an ocean person - how many of you have ever been to the ocean? We have nothing like the ocean in Missouri - the ocean waves take your breath away as you pause and think about how vast the ocean is. The ocean is a place where lots of people sit down in the sand and relax to the sound of the waves crashing against the beach. Our world has has so many things that are stunning. If you look into the night sky or if you look at the photos that Tim Hines takes, you walk away stunned at the awesomeness of our universe as there are stars and galaxies that leave us speechless. This life is a gift. This world has beauty in it. Our universe is remarkable! Yet, this present life pales in comparison the eternity awaiting those of us who are in Christ Jesus. In this world there is tragedy and suffering and loss… But the Bible promises that there will be a day where cancer, sickness, betrayal, disease, and heartbreak will be no more because there will be no more sin. As the hymn says, “What a day that will be!”

So what do we do until that day becomes our reality? How should we live our life on earth today knowing that eternity could become our reality tomorrow? There are a couple of different options that people have came up with over the years. Some professing Christians believe that because of what Jesus has done, they are free to coast in this life and do whatever they want to do. They are free to live in sin and fulfill their fleshly desires because Jesus has paid the punishment of their sins and their eternity is secure in Him. Therefore, they are free to continue living the way that they always have. This flies in the face of what the Bible tells us about what it means to be a born-again follower of Christ! Look at what Paul says in Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 CSB

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What does this mean? That our old self dies the moment that Christ comes to live inside us through His Spirit. We’ll always have a temptation to fall into sin, but we fight against that temptation because we know that we are a new creation. Though we live on this earth, we know that we are ultimately citizens of heaven. Though we might experience suffering and loss, we know that those things have an expiration date and one day will cease to exist. We know that we are not free to coast in this life because there is work to be done. Other people might try and fill their life with earthly things to try and satisfy what they are looking for. Christians might try play the “later” game with the Lord. You know this game, right? Parents, you tell your child to go clean their room or to come and eat and what do they say? 5 more minutes! Having been a 5 more minutes kid at one point in my life, why do we do this as humans? Why do we ask for 5 more minutes? Because we’re doing something that we want to do - often times. We think that what we’re doing can’t wait until later. We have to get this thing done. Lots of people ask God for 5 more minutes. God, I’ll do what you want me to do after I do this. I’ll worship you after I’m done chasing my dream. I’ll serve you after I’m done being served.

Don’t live your life today telling God that you need 5 more minutes to finish something up… Paul models a different way of living our life. Paul shares that the way that we should live our life on earth is to live is while looking ahead to eternity. Whenever you look ahead to eternity, you will prioritize things differently today. He shares that living is Christ and that dying is gain. Again this life is amazing - there are so many wonderful things that we have the opportunity to do here… Yet Paul says that to live is Christ and to die is even better! How can he say that? For Paul, his life was synonymous with Christ. Jesus was the giver of life. Jesus had provided Him with breath today. Jesus had Paul where he was at for a reason. Therefore, to live is Christ. All of Paul’s energy and devotion in life was spent for Christ. Paul wasn’t focused on his platform. He wasn’t focused on his comforts. He was focused on making much of Jesus. His life was for Jesus. Jesus had changed Paul’s life and he was going to live as a changed person each day. Paul was going to use his life on earth to point others to Jesus because his mindset was focused on eternity to come. How do we know that? Because of the rest of verse 21. How can dying be gain?

Our world views dying as the end, as it death were a period. The Bible presents death as an end as well but an end of a chapter, not the end of the book. In the Bible, death is like a comma as it separates two parts of a sentence. Death will either be better or it will be worse than this life. Paul shares that death will be gain. How can death be a good thing? Here are 2 ways that death is a good thing for a Christian

Death brings an end to suffering

Death unites us with Jesus

Paul is in a position where he can’t lose. If he lives, he will proclaim Christ and continue to pour into churches like the one in Philippi. If he dies, he will be with Jesus. See, the real joy about heaven isn’t the streets of gold. It’s not the big big house with lots and lots of rooms. It’s not even being there with loved ones who have already passed away. The crown jewel of heaven will be the throne where our Savior is seated and we’re going to gather around that throne giving Him the glory that He so rightly deserves. The joy of heaven is Jesus and you and I can have assurance that even though we will face death and suffering, Jesus is waiting at the end of it all and He promises to be with us through the suffering today as well.

Imagine this conversation that Paul and these prison guards might have had:

Paul, you’re annoying us. We’re going to kill you.

Awesome - dying is gain, I can’t wait to be with Jesus!

Wait, you want to die? Ok, we’re going to let you live.

Wonderful - I’m going to continue to produce fruit and live for Christ

Actually, we’re going to tie you up and torture you

I’ll rejoice in Jesus Christ because nothing you or anyone else can do will robe me of my joy. It would be an honor to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ

How can you and I have this mindset and joy? By focusing on eternity. By remembering what Jesus has done. By remembering our joy will be a realized joy one day whenever we stand before our savior face to face. By living each day as if this day might be our last here and we are to live for Christ.

Live a Life that Encourages Others to Boast in Jesus (24-26)

Paul concludes this passage of Scripture by encouraging this church to continue go grow in their faith in Christ. Even though Paul would rather go straight to be with Jesus, he has arrived at a place where he is at peace with remaining in prison and encouraging these brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul wants his friends to not only have joy in Christ but to boast in Christ during the good and bad times of life. Think about the idea of boasting for a moment.

What do people boast in?

People boast in their intellect. They boast in their skills. They boast in their possessions. They boast in their power. They boast in their accomplishments. The Bible gives us a different order, though. Our world says to boast in our strength - the Bible says to boast in our weakness. The world says to boast in our power - the Bible says to boast in Jesus’ power. The world says to boast in who you are - the Bible says to boast in who Jesus is. The world says to boast in what you’ve done - the Bible says to boast in what has been done for you. Church, we’re living in a generation where it’s all about “me” - a society that is so individualistic that many people can’t even congratulate someone else because of our pride and self-centeredness. People crave to boast in theirselves and what they’ve done but Paul offers us an alternative route. Look at what he shares in 2 Corinthians 12 as he says this

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 CSB

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Are you ready for the “why” part of this message? Why do we need to live a life where death is gain? Because everyone else in our world is boasting in where they are at because they live under the false impression that this life is all that there is. If this life is all that there is then by all means, let’s get whatever we can, can whatever we get, and sit on that can as long as we can. Let’s boast in ourselves. Let’s get on social media and brag about our accomplishments. Let’s become the best we can at our sport or job just to satisfy the longing in our heart for more and more. If this life is all that there is then we’re wasting our time here this morning. You are wasting your time coming to church on Sunday morning when half the world sleeps in. If this life is all that there is then we are wasting our time praising God whenever we should really be praising ourselves. The fact of the matter, though, is that this life isn’t all that there is. There is an eternity to come after this life - but this life will dictate where you and I will spend that eternity.

Eternity… Our minds can’t even comprehend that word or number. We read in God’s Word a promise that we have a heavenly Father who loves us, who created us, who sent His Son to die for our sins to rescue us from separation from Him. We read in God’s Word about a promise to restore this broken world - we read of a cross that illustrates the love that our Father has for us as He made a way when there was no other way. We talk about that Father that we have in our God and just as we can’t comprehend eternity, many people cannot comprehend that Father.

They can’t comprehend that Father because their earthly father was a deadbeat dad. They can’t comprehend the heavenly Father because their earthly father left them searching for more. They can’t comprehend their heavenly Father because their earthly father never told them that he loved them. Fatherlessness is an epidemic in this country - Satan doesn’t have to go to the church, burn down cities, or influence elections in this battle… All he has to do is destroy the home.

Here are some numbers for us this morning:

Young men account for 75% of all suicides

65% of young men admit to viewing porn regularly

Half of marriages in our country end in divorce

Over 80% of violent crime is committed by young men

Fatherless homes account for

63% of teen suicide

90% of teen runaways

71% of high school dropouts

85% of prison inmates

What is the correlation between these things? A lack of a father. A lack of someone who is invested enough in the lives of these individuals to be present for them and to simply offer advice along the way. Simply by having a father in the picture, these statistics change dramatically! Simply by having an active father children are:

39% more likely to earn mostly A’s in school

45% less likely to repeat a grace

60% less likely to be suspended

2x as likely to go to college and or find stable employment after high school

Why? Simply because there’s a dad in the picture to offer encouragement, counsel, and guidance. This life matters, doesn’t it? This life matters because what we do in our 70 years here will impact our eternity. Parents, you get your kids under your roof for about 20 years… Maybe a little more, then they’re gone. What are you showing them about the importance of this life and the life to come? What are you teaching them about Jesus? I remember a lot of things that my dad taught me. Riding a bike, swinging a golf club, reading books (wait, that was mom) and those skills are still with me. Dad’s the most important thing you can do for your kids is to pray for them, and model what it looks like to have hope and faith in Jesus. Don’t ever underestimate the impact that those things can have!

Conclusion

I can’t tell you when I made my first 100% on a test. I can’t tell you when I made my first birdie in golf. I can’t tell you when I made my first 3 pointer in basketball… But I can tell you when I went on my first mission trip. I can tell you when had the opportunity to pray with someone as they repented of their sins and trusted in Christ as the Savior and Lord. Paul’s prayer for this church is that they would grow and boast in Jesus - this should be our prayer each and every day for our kids. Father’s your kids are watching you to tell them what matters and what doesn’t. I played bass guitar at FBC Ozark for years and would look at the congregation and I can’t tell you how many times I’d see a kid look to their parents to see what they were doing during worship. If mom and dad were singing, what would the kid do? Sing. If mom was singing and dad wasn’t, what would the kid do? Stop singing. Others are watching - what we do and how we do what we do matters! “The greatest stumbling block for a child in worship is a parent who doesn’t.” We are called to encourage others to boast in Jesus. Not in ourselves. Ask yourself this: Do you care more about your batting average or your testimony? Do you care more about your fishing cast percentage or your church attendance?

Paul had hobbies and passions in this life - don’t mistake this to say that Christians shouldn’t have those things. But what’s the priority? In the life of someone who lives out Philippians 1:21, the priority is to glorify Jesus and to keep their eyes fixed on eternity in everything that they do. How can we do that? How can we live that out?

Honor Jesus in all you do

Put Jesus first in how you live

Encourage others to rejoice in Him

This world is not all that there is, but what we do in this life will impact our eternity. Is following Jesus worth it? Our world would tell us that of course heaven is better than hell… But would you say that heaven is greater than earth? That’s the struggle for many humans. The only life where death is gain is the one that acknowledges that heaven is so much sweeter than anything this world has to offer. It is a life that is focused on Jesus. It is a life that lives for an audience of one… May you and I have enough faith to be able to join Paul in saying to live is Christ and to die is gain. Not because that’s an easy statement to make… But because Jesus has truly changed your life and given you a new heart. If you do not view death as gain, I invite you to look at God’s Word and simply have Jesus change your mind. Jesus changed Paul. He changed his outlook on life and his outlook on death as well. Jesus is still in the business of changing minds and saving souls. Come to Jesus today.

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