Meaning(Full) Life

I sat with my dad on the eve of a second heart surgery. His thirteen year old replacement valve now needs replacing. We talked about his great-grandchildren and how quickly they’re growing. We caught up on the day to day and tried to solve the world’s problems, but I could sense what was really on his mind. I know well the place the apostle Paul describes in his letter to the Philippians. It’s the place we all must face our own mortality and become convinced that heaven is our real home.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; 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.

And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.”

Philippians 1:21-26 NKJV

https://bible.com/bible/114/php.1.21-26.NKJV

To live is Christ is much easier to swallow. We can stomach the denying self and taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23) as long as we get to live. We can muster the fortitude to press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14) all day long if there’s hope for one more day, but death is the sure and certain reality for us all unless Christ returns in our lifetimes.

So do we really believe that to die is gain? Jesus said to the thief in the cross, today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43) He also said there are many rooms in the Father’s house and that He goes to prepare a place for us. (John 14:2) The Bible gives us many elaborate pictures of God’s throne in the heavens from Ezekiel to Daniel and John’s Revelation. They are massive and mysterious- unknown to us, while this world, for all its imperfections, is familiar.

Even the loneliest among us have dear ones we long for and while we remain alive, there is hope of reunion. Surely our families and friends need us a little longer. Our job, whether paid or volunteer, still needs doing. The retirement we’ve saved for or the trips we mean to take, the land that’s almost paid off, or the grandchildren we hope to see grown haunt us in moments we can’t see beyond. This place where we learn to see life for what it is, a gift, and leave behind the fear of death is also familiar to our Lord and Savior.

The same One who said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10) also gave His life for mine. The same lips uttered, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) I learned to pray this prayer fervently during my own cancer treatment, and I am confident it has been my father’s prayer in this season as in many others.

“We long to see more of the pattern than we can; we “cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Eccl. 3:11).

Meanwhile, it is a “gift from God” to eat and labor and find satisfaction in one’s own patch, all the while happily aware “that everything God does will endure forever” (Eccl. 3:13-14).

The cycles that the unbeliever finds meaningless and despairing incite the believer to faithfulness and worship.”

For The Love Of God: Day 106 • Devotional

I am extremely happy to report that my dad’s surgery went amazingly well! I watched him sit up to eat a meal and walk two laps with his nurse just hours after receiving his new heart valve. Obviously, God’s not done with either of us yet. So with one eye on the horizon, we’ll keep looking for our Lord’s return with more excitement than a kid at Christmas, and as long as we’re here, we’ll worship Jesus as Lord to the glory of God the Father!

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!