Better With Christ

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain ... yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you "(Phil.1:21-24). 

Throughout his ministry, Paul often faced death. His life on earth was hard. It was painful and sometimes filled with fear. On one occasion he recalled: "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling "(1Cor.2:3). Surely dying was not pleasant, but he was comforted. He was even attracted by the prospect of being "with Christ." He proclaimed this prospect "far better " than any earthly thing. 

Paul was not unique in facing death. The disciples tried to warn Jesus, but He would not be dissuaded.  Thomas bravely said: "Let us also go, that we may die with him "(Jn.11:7). Even then, they understood that being with Christ far overshadowed the fear of dying. There was no pessimism, no despair, just reality. Paul faced death and declared he would have been pleased to be absent from the body and present with Christ (2 Cor. 5:8). All said and done, dying with Christ is better -- far, far better.

But what if we do not die, at least not right away? Then what? Is with Christ only about dying? What about living? "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's" (Rom.14:8). If there was no death, no resurrection, no heaven or hell, living with Christwould still be better. Living with Christ is the ideal life. It makes us better and makes it easier for us to live with ourselves. It also makes us a blessing to others and makes us God's special inheritance (Eph.1:18).

Living with Christ is the essence of God's plan (1 Thess. 5:9). From the onset of our service to the Lord and burial "with Him through baptism into death," we have been called to live with Christ -- to "walk in newness of life "(Rom.6:4). Beyond any doubt, when it comes to living, with Christ is better -- far, far better.

In obeying the gospel, we become sons of God together with Christ. That means we are heirs of God and joint heirs together with Christ -- which then means being glorified with Him. If only faintly, we imagine what glorified with Him implies. We will surely count any hardship that is encountered in being with Him as trivial. When all is wrapped up -- when the final page is turned, "with Christ " is surely better -- far, far better.

Rickie Jenkins