according to my earnest expectations and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.  (21) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22) But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.  (23) For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  (24) Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.  (27) Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or I am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel

The letter to the Philippians was written by the apostle Paul.  At the time Paul wrote this letter he was in prison in Rome having appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen – he was arrested for preaching the gospel.  The outcome was uncertain and Paul either faced death or would be freed.  In this first chapter of the letter to the church at PhillipI Paul writes about the pros and cons of the impending decision:  his desire is to die and be with Christ (to die is gain) but if he were to live, he would live for Christ and serve His purpose.

What do we live for as men and women of faith???  To live properly we must live purposely and with an eye to our inevitable death.  What do we think happens after death – and how does that affect us?  At the moment of faith – God’s gift – we become transformed – we are reborn and want to live for Christ not out of fear but out of love and desire.  Our new status through grace is our new reality.  Christ becomes our all in all –  things of this world recede and we seek what cannot be seen but know to be true.  Our hope has become certain – we are becoming children of God and people of the book

C.S. Lewis writes in The Great Divorce that “There are only two kinds of people in the end:  those who say to God “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says in the end, “Thy will be done.”  All that are in hell, choose it.”