Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist Church, Grenada, MS, USA

Holding to the truths embraced by Baptist for centuries.

Among the majority of people, death is considered the greatest of all losses. This is no surprise. Most people live only for this earth and this life. Their interests, pursuits , pleasures, and possessions are all things of this present world. For the believer as we noted in a recent article Christ is what living is all about. When Christ is the center of our life and we recognize Him as the source of our life, the standard of our life, the subject, the strength, and the satisfaction of our life, then we can truly say “For me to live is Christ; to die is gain.”

“To die is gain is at the heart of the believer’s hope. In 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Paul includes death as one of the believer’s assets. He writes “ For all things are yours whether…. Life or death or things present, or things to come, all are yours and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. The central fact which makes death gain is found in Philippians 1:21 Paul declares “I am in a strait between the two ; having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better.” To die is gain most of all because it means for the believer to be “with

Christ.” How wonderful it will be for us to see our Savior, to fellowship with Him, to worship Him purely, and to serve Him completely.

“To die is gain” is true because it means to be with Christ consciously. There is no such thing as soul sleep. Notice that Paul said I am in a straight between two, to be with you or be with Christ. In Second Corinthians 5:8 Paul said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

“To die is gain” is true because it means to be with Christ in heaven. It is called Paradise (Luke 23:43 ) and “my Father’s house” (John 14:3). It’s a place of perfect environment. There are beautiful gardens and the beautiful city, the New Jerusalem, with streets of gold, gates of pearl, and all kinds of precious stones scattered throughout the city (Rev. 21) It’s a place where night never comes, and pleasant summer never ends. It’s a place where the roses never fade, and the fruit never spoils. It’s place where disease never comes, and death never separates. It’s a place where there are no tears or sad goodbye. It’s a place where no sin or sorrow intrudes. It is a place of true purity, light, and love to the fullest degree.

“To die is gain” because it means the release from earthly troubles and responsibilities. Our Lord said “In the world you will have tribulation.” There are financial troubles, family troubles, health troubles, work or career troubles, social troubles; all kinds of troubles. Sometimes these troubles, our afflictions and trials, are allowed in the providence of God to accumulate without intermission until it seems as though one more ounce of pressure will cause our spirit to snap. Such pressures drive us to Him who is able to help us in our time of trouble. They drive us “to that rock that is higher” than us Psalm 61:2). They drive us to the one who is able and willing to help. In such an hour as we think not the Son of Man comes with healing in His wings. How we rejoice in His grace and His faithfulness to us here and now. Yet, there is a longing within each of us as believers for the time when we will be free from our earthly troubles and for the believer this day will come at death or if the Lord returns, the Rapture!

“To die is gain” because it means reunion with other Christian loved ones in heaven. Our hearts have been saddened as we have been separated from more and more of our loved ones. David said after the death of his son, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me”(2 Samuel 12:23). We shall know them and be with them. What a comfort and joy that will be for us!

“To die is gain” because it means rewards for service rendered to our Saviour and Lord. He has told us we cannot offer even a cup of cold water to some weary person without it being rewarded. There will be rewards for disciplined faithful service and witnessing, for overcoming temptations, for living in anticipation of the coming of Christ, for shepherding God’s people. All our works will be tested, and those that endure will be rewarded. We have been saved by grace, but God in grace will reward our feeble efforts and give us crowns. How sweet it will be to cast them at His feet and to hear him say “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” For the believer “to die is gain.”

Finally, “to die is gain” because it means the realization of all our highest, truest, and deepest longings. In this life there is frustration and futility that is associated with much of our efforts and plans. In this life there are many unrealized dreams and plans, much unrealized potential. In the life to come we shall serve Him fully, completely, unreservedly, to our fullest capacity, to our joy. We dare not chose the time of our death, that is the right of our Lord, but for the believer in Christ, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”.