Either Way It's All Good

 "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ , which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." Philippians 1:23-24 NIV

In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul expresses his desire to be with Christ to the full extent that life after death would afford him, but he also recognizes how important his teaching and example is to the young church. Death does not evoke any fear in Paul as he looks forward to a deeper relationship with Christ in heaven.  His life, full of challenges and adventures, has cemented his deep faith in the love of his Lord for him, and also his love for the Lord.  Alongside his love of God is his love of people and he readily embraces a delay in his departure from this life because he wants to bless the people around him.  He wants them to experience a loving relationship with God and have an assurance of eternal life with Him after they die . For Paul, either situation is a positive one. With Christ in his heart, this life or the life to come are both blessed by love.

I thank God that He has given me a peace about dying. I thank Him for showing me his love so that I can be assured of his continued love after I leave this earthly body. As I get older, I can feel excited that every day I am getting closer to seeing my Lord face to face. In the meantime, I will try to follow God's leading for this life so that I can be a blessing in this world.