Jump Start # 212

Philippians 1:24 “yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”

  This section of Philippians reveals an attitude and spirit in the apostle Paul that is so different from what we hear today. Paul was at a crossroads. A decision was to be made. He admitted, “I do not know which to choose” (v. 22). What was the decision that he faced? To live or to die. Understand, first of all, Paul is not talking about taking his life. Suicide is not on the table of discussion here. His life would end when God said so. He understood that. But he also knew reality. Paul was in prison in Rome for preaching Jesus. The outcome didn’t look good. Paul was not afraid. In fact, that is part of his hard decision here. He knew to die, he would be with the Lord. His walk was so confident that he could say, “to die is gain.” His desire was “to depart and be with Christ.” What a fresh and Biblical view of death. Paul knew that death wasn’t the end. Life doesn’t end at the cemetery—life ends with God. The journey takes us to God. Paul was ready. For the faithful of God, death is just a door to a wonderful world so different than what we have here. The righteous of God will suffer no more after death. Gone will be temptations, trials, struggles, and disappointments. In the presence of God is such a joyous and comforting thought. Paul knew what was awaiting him and he believed it so strongly that he could hardly wait.

  We must stop and look in our spiritual mirror. Can we say that? Do we feel that way? Do we want to squeeze every ounce out of this world and then at an advanced aged die? Not Paul. Take me now, was his attitude. One of these days I am really going to embarrass myself at a funeral. I’ve preached many, many funerals in my time. When the person who passed away was a righteous person I can’t help but think how different they are now than I am. No more locks on the door. No more pills to take. No calendars to turn each month. No aches, no bad news, no fears, no evil people. One of these days, I’m just going say in a funeral, “Quit Crying! They’re the lucky one! They got out of crazy place!”

 Does death scare you? It shouldn’t. Do you dread it? You shouldn’t. It’s the door out and what a wonderful world awaits on the other side.

  Paul was ready to go, but he knew that there remained things to be done. There always is. Work never ends. When thinking about the church and especially the Philippian brethren, Paul realized that he was needed. “To stay is more necessary for you.” Paul was needed. The church needed him. His fingerprints were all over the church.

  Now that brings us to another great consideration from these verses, “Are your fingerprints seen on the church you attend?” Are you making a difference and an impact in the lives of others? So often I hear people asking, “What can you church do for me?” Fair question. But too often, we don’t ask the other question, “How can I help the brethren?” Are we simply receiving, taking each week without making much of an impact. Are we leaving our fingerprints on the church?

  Paul did. He was needed. But then so are you. You are needed. There are things for all of us to be doing, and most would admit that we are not doing near as much as we should. Teaching, encouraging, inviting, helping out are many of the ways we leave our fingerprints upon the church. We sing, “There is a work that we all can do…” It begins with me!

Roger