Philippians 1:21-26…“For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer.” vss. 21-22
Paul had reached an age, perhaps 55-60 years old, when he had begun to think of himself as aged. And since he was in prison, with plenty of time on his hand, he was considering his own mortality. He reported to the Philippians that he was of two minds. He didn’t mind dying, because that would mean new life, but he hated to think of not continuing his work.
At some point, if we live long enough, it’s likely that we too will be in Paul’s position. The symptoms of age creep up on us, and ultimately they are daily reminders of our mortality. When that happens, it’s good to be at a point where we really don’t fear death. It’ll likely be a new feeling for us! Most people don’t want to die and in fact dread the possibility. We want to stave off death for as long as we can!
Even people of faith do all we can to live long and well–it seems to be a natural inclination. But one day, having experienced aging in our own bodies, we will come to a point where it no longer feels like an enemy invasion. We will continue to use our days for living fruitfully, but we also know that dying will bring new life. There is no need to fear the end!
Thought for the Day: What do I think about living and dying?
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