### Summary
Good evening, everyone. It is a joy to be back and see the work that continues to exalt Christ. My wife Sandy and I have been in Mexico for two years, working with a mission agency focused on unreached language groups. These are places with no access to the Bible, no church, and no Christians in their language. We are grateful for your support in this mission.
Tonight, I want to talk about the meaning of life and how we should view death as Christians. Imagine an angel appears and tells you that you will die tomorrow. How would you feel? Death is a reality we all must face, and it should be a topic of excitement for Christians. The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 1:21, says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul faced the possibility of imminent death but had no fear because he knew the meaning of life: to live for Christ.
Paul's life was entirely centered around Christ. He thought about Christ, talked about Christ, studied Christ, served Christ, and loved Christ. For Paul, everything else was secondary. He saw death as gain because it meant being with Christ, the ultimate goal of his life. This perspective is challenging but essential for us as Christians. We must live for Christ in such a way that death becomes a gain.
Living for Christ requires exclusivity. Too often, we try to live for Christ and other things like our job, family, or hobbies. But Christ demands to be our priority. We must serve Christ, love Christ, and help the church grow in Christ. Serving Christ means engaging in fruitful labor that produces spiritual results in people. Loving Christ means longing to be with Him, even to the point of desiring death to gain Christ fully. Helping the church grow in Christ means focusing on the spiritual progress and joy of our fellow believers.
In conclusion, the meaning of life is to live for Christ. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. Let us serve Christ, love Christ, and help the church grow in Christ so that we can face death with joy and anticipation, knowing that we will gain Christ fully.
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Key Takeaways
- 1. Centered**: Paul’s life was entirely centered around Christ. He thought, talked, studied, served, and loved Christ. Everything else was secondary. This Christ-centered life is what gave Paul the confidence to face death without fear, knowing that to die is to gain Christ fully. [36:13]
2. Death as Gain: For Paul, death was not an escape from pain or misery but the ultimate gain because it meant being with Christ. This perspective challenges us to view death not as a loss but as the ultimate reward for a life lived for Christ.
3. Exclusivity in Living for Christ: Living for Christ requires exclusivity. We often try to balance Christ with other priorities like work, family, and hobbies. However, Christ demands to be our priority. We must serve, love, and prioritize Christ above all else.
4. Serving Christ Through Fruitful Labor: Serving Christ means engaging in fruitful labor that produces spiritual results in people. This involves proclaiming Christ, sharing the gospel, praying for others, and building up the church. Our service should aim for character change and spiritual transformation in others.
5. Helping the Church Grow in Christ: Building up the church is a crucial aspect of living for Christ. This involves helping fellow believers progress and find joy in their faith. Spiritual progress should be evident to all, and we should encourage and challenge each other towards transformation.
### [36:13]
Youtube Chapters
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [28:53] - The Unreached and Our Mission
- [30:23] - Prayer and Humility
- [32:25] - Facing Death and Mortality
- [34:29] - Reflecting on Life and Death
- [36:13] - The Meaning of Life: To Live is Christ
- [39:22] - Death as Gain
- [41:33] - Exclusivity in Living for Christ
- [45:22] - Prioritizing Christ Above All
- [47:02] - Serving Christ Through Fruitful Labor
- [50:26] - Character Change in Service
- [54:12] - Loving Christ and Longing for Heaven
- [55:26] - Death as the Best Choice
- [56:28] - Our Citizenship in Heaven
- [57:16] - Loving Christ Fully
- [62:28] - Helping the Church Grow in Christ
- [63:11] - Spiritual Progress and Joy
- [71:27] - Living for Christ and Facing Death
- [72:37] - Closing Prayer