For Me To Live Is Christ…
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Scholars believe the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians toward the end of his first imprisonment in Rome. He knew his time in prison was coming to an end, though he didn't know if freedom from prison meant continued life on earth or death and eternal life with Christ. Yet, despite facing such uncertainty, Paul boldly proclaimed his deliverance, salvation, and freedom. With great confidence, he stated, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) Paul's boldness and confidence in facing death reminds me of my mom, Sandra Brown's, death from COVID this summer.
My mom had a prophetic gift. Years ago, God impressed on her heart that she wouldn't be around much longer, and she tried to prepare us for what was coming. Like Noah building the ark though he had never seen rain, my mom acted in faith and obedience to prepare for the unseen. "By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household." (Hebrews 11:17)
After mom went to the hospital with COVID-19, we found evidence of her obedience and extensive preparation. In 2009, she updated her will, and ten years later, she picked out the songs for her funeral. In 2020, my mom sensed she would die from COVID. Time was growing short.
In May 2021, she texted my sisters and me a picture with the caption, "You can use it in my obituary." She loved us all, but like Paul, her "desire was to depart and be with Christ." (Philippians 1:23)
In the middle of July, she came to my birthday party and gave me four cards… because she sensed she wouldn't be here for any future birthdays.
In early August, she wrote my oldest son's birthday card and put another card in it for my younger son's birthday… which is in November.
On August 14th, she went to the hospital then was put on the ventilator a day later.
On August 22nd, the doctor called. Mom was not improving. They wanted us to come to the hospital as soon as possible. Fifteen minutes before we went to the hospital, I found her will. The second paragraph said, "I hope the family would let me die after keeping me alive for seven days. I would rather be in heaven than on life support. That is my wish."
We took Mom's will to the meeting with the palliative doctor. With relief, she said, "You don't know what a gift it was that your mom wrote this. She sounds like a woman of amazing faith."
My mom boldly shared her confidence that Christ was her deliverance and salvation by writing, "I would rather be in heaven than on life support." She had taken the message "to live is Christ and to die is gain" to heart, included it in her will, and even blessed her doctor.
All of us can choose to honor and glorify Christ, whether by life or by death.
My mom lived and died by faith.
She listened to the Holy Spirit, prepared her heart and her will, both literally and figuratively, and did her best to prepare our hearts. None of us know the day or hour we will die. Believers can face death with confidence because of knowing Jesus. Simon Peter knew Jesus. He said, "You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68-69) We who know Jesus should share the gift of salvation with those we know. Without fear.
Finally, as God told Hezekiah, "Set your house in order." (2 Kings 20:1) Write out a will. Apologize to the people you have offended. Forgive the people that have hurt you. Set your eyes on Jesus, “and the things of earth will grow strangely dim." Keep eternity always in mind. Let your loved ones know you love them.
"Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away... So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)
~ Penny Noyes, M.Ed. just released her fourth book Seeing Value A Biblical Perspective on Intrinsic Value on Amazon. She also writes for Christianity.com, GracefullyTruthful.com and her blog. She is a wife to Tom, mom to Chris and John, step-mom to Hillary and Jeremy (son-in-law) and a mimi to the cutest grandkids ever.