The Contemplation of Life and Death

The Contemplation of life and Death

Introduction:

Adversity is no stranger to life, especially the Christian’s life. In a matter of moments, without any warning, we can face physical adversity, social adversity, spiritual adversity, emotional adversity, financial adversity, and mental adversity. This past week, we watched Olympic Champion Simone Biles withdraw from the competition for mental health issues. Adversity is real. How we handle it is crucial.

Some of the most significant spiritual literature has been composed in prisons. The classic book Pilgrim’s Progress was written from an England prison by John Bunyan. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote many letters from prison, as well as Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We benefit from Paul’s adversity because this letter was written while in a Roman prison.

The Apostle Paul gives us a paradigm to follow in Philippians 1:12-26, as he deals with the reality of his imprisonment. He was constantly chained to a guard with no privacy. It was not comfortable. Even so, Paul did not use the letter to complain but to show how adversity was advancing the gospel. His adversity also gave him time to contemplate life and death.

Unsure about his future, whether he would be freed from prison or executed, Paul becomes transparent as he contemplates the weightiness of life and death. Adversity has a way of making us introspective and contemplative about what is essential. Flying on an airplane isn’t necessarily adversity, but it does force me to think about life and death at takeoff and landing. We should not shy away from this type of contemplation because of the severe consequences if not adequately prepared.

Will you be honest with yourself for a moment? Have you ever stopped to contemplate the question, “What is life? How do I define life? What am I living for?” We usually don’t even come close to this type of contemplation until something terrible happens to us, not so for the Apostle Paul.

Paul has thought about life and death and has come up with a definition and destiny for life. His definition and destiny enable him to handle adversity the way he does throughout his life. Paul’s contemplation in our text is for the Philippian believers' benefit and all believers throughout church history.

Paul’s contemplation begins in Philippians 1:20: “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” Paul reveals his uncertain future but decides whether by his life or by his death, Christ will be exalted and honored in both. Humanly speaking, we don’t often see both life and death positively affect our outcome, but not for Paul. Either life or death will be good.

Verse twenty-one gives the reason for such a positive outlook: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” This one statement gives us Paul’s definition and destiny for life. It’s the reason Paul handles adversity the way he does in verses twelve through eighteen, and it is the reason he can see life and death as opportunities to honor Christ.

It would be effortless to look at this statement that Paul makes today and only understand what it meant to Paul, which we will do. But, I don’t know how we can study this verse and this passage without contemplating the judgment that it brings to our own life and faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s a real tragedy that many are concerned about life and all its activities but seldom take the time to contemplate what it means to really live well and even die well. Verse twenty-one will help us understand life and death if we allow it. Furthermore, if we contemplate the significance of this statement by Paul, it will be a real test of our Christian faith. First, contemplate the significance of life.

The contemplation of life: A definition for life

To know Christ

Philippians 1:19-20

In verse twenty-one, Paul states: “For to me to live is Christ....” What does it mean to live? He further describes what it means to live in verse twenty-two: “If I am to live in the flesh...” Paul is not referring to just his spiritual life, but life as a whole. You could translate it: “To go on living means living the Christ-life.” One translator has interpreted it this way: “Whatever I live, I live Christ.” What does it mean for Paul to live for Christ? First, to live for Christ means to know Christ more and more personal.

Look at verse nineteen: “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance....” I touched upon it last week, but it’s essential to look at this verse again to understand how Paul defines his life. The word “deliverance” is best translated as “salvation.” Every time it is used by Paul in the New Testament, it is translated as salvation. Salvation has three aspects to it: past, present, and future. When Paul says that his adversity through the prayers of other believers and the help of the Holy Spirit will turn out for his salvation, he is referring to present and future salvation. As it relates to present salvation, God uses Paul’s adversity to advance the gospel in Paul’s life, making him more like Jesus. This is significant to understand.

Paul’s circumstance was saving him in that it was making him more like Jesus. It was making him more like the person he wanted to be. It was a time to refine him into the image of Christ, resulting in him being more of a man of love and humility. God was turning him into gold. And in the process of transforming and changing Paul, he was getting to know Christ more and more. He was experiencing the love of Christ more and more, the presence of Christ more and more, the glory of Christ more and more. Therefore, for Paul, living for Christ means knowing Christ. Second, living for Christ means making Christ known to others.

To Make Christ Known

Philippians 1:22-25

Notice verses twenty-two through twenty-five: “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith....”

For Paul, to live for Christ means fruitful labor. In its simplest form, fruitful labor is proclaiming Christ to make disciples, strengthen disciples, and encourage disciples.

Let me point out something. Paul is contemplating life and death. He would rather die and be with Christ, which is much better. Suicide is not being contemplated. He’s using a rhetorical statement to teach the Philippians. If it were up to Paul’s interest, he would want to be with Christ. But since Paul is living for Christ, he puts the interest of others before his and sees that his fruitful labor must help the Philippian's progress in their faith. Third, living for Christ means glorifying Christ.

To glorify Christ

Philippians 1:26

Verse twenty-six: “so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” Paul’s ultimate goal in living for Christ is to bring glory to Christ. Now, let’s put Paul’s statement for living for Christ in a working definition.

To live for Christ means knowing Christ more and more personally and making Him known to others through the fruitful labor of proclaiming Christ, making, strengthening, and encouraging disciples for the glory of Christ.

Paul had no hidden parts of his life or secrets that he kept from Jesus. There was not part of his life that he kept from Jesus. He was fully surrendered to Christ, which resulted in knowing Christ more and more personally and making him know to others through the fruitful labor of proclaiming Christ, making, strengthening, and encouraging disciples for the glory of Christ.

What about you? What is life for you? What is the most important thing for you? Let's do a little test. Personalize this statement “for to me, to live is” and then honestly fill in the blank. For some to live is pleasure, having fun, having a good job, making a lot of money, working hard, being a good person, family, and so on. But none of those define life. Why? If you take any of those things away, you take away life. If your family fails, your life fails. If your career falls, your life falls. See what I mean?

How you define your life determines how you live your life. It determines how you make your decisions for life, how your raise your family, how you plan for the future, how you handle adversity, and how you handle death. Paul contemplates death.

The contemplation of death: A destiny for life

Verse twenty-one: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul's word for “gain” is a financial term used for interest, capital gains, and profits. For Paul living for Christ means more of Christ, and if living for Christ means more of Christ, then death means even more of Christ and his presence. Life and death are win-win realities when Christ defines your life and your death.

There is only one winning definition for life. There is only one bottom line that counts. What’s your bottom life? Or better yet, Who’s your bottom line?I have not been watching the Olympic competitions, but I know the athletes have trained hard and long to compete at this level. When athletes go to the Olympics, they make everything in life secondary to that one passion and goal. They put careers on hold, sometimes marriages, because they are secondary to that one goal.

When you make Christ the definition of your life, you bring meaning to your life. You make everything else secondary to that meaning and purpose, and it results in a life lived well, and ultimately, death becomes a gain, not a loss.

If you had to give the eulogy for your funeral, what would you say? What defines your life? What is your destiny? Having Christ define your life begins with trusting him as your Lord and Savior.