Living for Christ: Understanding Philippians 1:21 and the Eternal Perspective

Philippians 1:21

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (NIV)

In our passage, Paul takes an eternal perspective on the world and his life. He not only sees what is in front of him, but also keeps it in the context of life, not limited by this world or this body, but continuing on in the spiritual realm. This is also to live for Christ.

Living our life for Christ is made possible when we are completely confident and aware that this life is not the end. It is not even the larger part of our existence. We may spend 80 years or so on this Earth, but we will spend eternity in the afterlife. Knowing how we live now in this short period determines the quality of our second life helps us to live for Christ. When we neglect the truth of life after death, it becomes much easier to allow ourselves to satiate unholy appetites, to anesthetize pain, and to justify hurting those who have hurt us. If this life ends with every soul ceasing to exist and every physical body in the ground, then what we do now is not so consequential. This is nihilism, which smooths the way to unhealthy indulgence that will destroy our lives.

Knowing that my thoughts, actions, words, and attitude carry the weight of determining the nature of my immortality keeps me in check. It becomes wise to sacrifice immediate gratification to do the right thing. We prioritize loving God and loving others. Self-discipline becomes wise. We will delight in the laws of God that restrict the flesh now in lieu of His paradise in the next life. 

We gather from Paul that he kept this thought at the forefront of his daily meditations. This thought helped him endure the difficulties of living for Christ. We must also discipline ourselves each day to remember that what we do today will last beyond these twenty-four hours but follow us into eternity. And living for Christ now removes the sting of death, transforming it to a new birth into a place with no tears, no sorrow, and no darkness.

Prayer: Lord, may Your Holy Spirit remind me many times each day that to live for You, I must stay aware of my life after death. Thank you.