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Introduction:
November 7, 1999—I was sitting in the hospital room with Marita
the day after Ethan was born. The phone rang and I answered it.
However, it was not someone calling to congratulate us on our son.
Rather, I was told my dad was in the hospital in Jonesboro, AR and
had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We were told 5% live
for 2 years. 2% live for 5. The rest die within the first year. I
can hardly imagine what it is like to have a doctor hand you a
death sentence. Yet, now it is happening all over again with my
father-in-law. The cancer is different but the prognosis is the
same. As bad as that sounds, they both took the bull by the horns
and decided to beat it. They were or are going to cling to life as
long as possible. They listened to their doctors and also started
taking many more natural precautions—juicing, supplements,
exercise, etc.
I have seen this over and again. People learning they may
die begin to cling to life as if death is the worst possible thing
that could happen. Why do we do that? Should we do that? If we are
going to cling to life, is there a proper reason? Finally, those
of us who cling to life so vehemently, are we doing so for good
reason? Paul faced a similar situation in Philippians
1:18-26. He was a prisoner and might be executed, but he
was convinced he would be delivered. He clung to life. Examine
why, however, and let us increase our faith. Discussion: I.
Paul clung to life, but not for personal gain. A.
In Philippians
1:21, Paul said, “…to die is gain” (ESV). Paul did
not view clinging to life as personal gain. He did not want to
cling to life because he thought he was going to miss out on
something. He was not thinking about places he wanted to see or
people he wanted to meet. He wasn’t thinking about money he
wanted to make or entertainments he wanted to enjoy. He wasn’t
worried about losing his savings, his house or even his family. He
wasn’t afraid of death. He didn’t look at death as the great
mystery hereafter. Therefore, he did not cling to life because of
personal gain. B.
To Paul, death would bring personal gain. He knew if he
departed, he would get to be with Christ (Philippians
1:23). He knew an inheritance awaited him in heaven
reserved by the power of God through faith (I
Peter 1:3-5). He recognized the glory that would be
revealed in him after he had died would make everything he had
faced in life worth it (Romans
8:18). Continuing life meant continuing temptation,
continuing hardship, continuing persecution. Death meant peace and
comfort (cf. Luke
16:22). C.
We must be honest with ourselves. When we cling to life, is
it for personal gain or because of personal fears brought on by
weak faith? We must look to Paul as our example and never cling to
life for personal gain. We must recognize if continuing in this
world is more gain to us than going to the next, we have some
problems. II.
Paul clung to life to further the cause of Christ. A.
In Philippians
1:21, Paul said, “…to live is Christ” (ESV). Paul
did not want to live for his personal gain. He wanted to live for
Christ’s gain. Once he was dead, he could no longer impact the
world for Christ’s sake. B.
We see this same principle demonstrated in the psalms.
Notice how often the psalmists ask God to deliver them from the
grave. Each time they tie it back to God receiving praise and how
when they are dead they will no longer be able to do that. 1.
In Psalm
6:4-5, David asks for deliverance because there will be no
remembrance of God in the grave. 2.
In Psalm
30:8-9, David asked what benefit would come to God from
his death. The dust won’t praise God. But if he lives, he will. 3.
In Psalm
88:9-12, Heman asked for deliverance because the dead
cannot rise up to praise God or declare His steadfast love. C.
When we cling to life, is it because of our gain or
Christ’s? Paul, David, Heman were all more concerned about the
impact their death would have on God’s plan. Not that they
viewed themselves as indispensable to God, but they wanted to be
part of God’s plan. They wanted others to know about their great
God. They wanted to get the message of praise and love out but
would no longer be able to if they were dead. If we cling to life,
it must be for Christ’s gain, not our own. III.
Paul clung to life to serve others. A.
Philippians
1:24-25
says Paul wanted to cling to life in order to serve others.
Staying in this life would not benefit Paul, but it would benefit
those he could edify. Once he was dead, he could no longer be of
any benefit to any of his brethren or to any of the lost in the
world. B.
This connects with what Paul said in Philippians
2:3-4, that we are to view others as more important than
ourselves and to seek their needs above our own. As Paul said in Romans
15:1-2, everything we do is bear with others and build
them up instead of pleasing ourselves. In I
Peter 4:10, Peter said we are to use our gifts in order to
serve one another. C.
Is this why we cling to life? So we can serve and edify
others? Are we more concerned with our own personal gain or more
concerned about what we can do for others? If we cling to life, it
must not be for our personal gain but in order to be a help to
others. IV.
Live like you are dying. A.
A few years ago, Tim McGraw released a hit song entitled,
“Live Like You Were Dying.” The song highlighted how one man
learning he was dying began to live like he was supposed to all
along. There is a similar spiritual point. Many people when they
learn they may die open their eyes to eternity and they turn their
lives around. Sadly, however, these kinds of turnarounds are often
short lived. Too often the turnaround was a bartering technique to
manipulate God to extend their life saying, “God, if only you
will get me out of this, I will start serving you better.”
Sometimes they do come out of the sickness and the shock of the
death sentence wears off and we just slip back into old ways. B.
In any event, we need to understand the key to clinging to
life. Paul did not receive a death sentence and then start being
concerned about Christ’s gain and helping others. That was how
he lived his life all along. Few of us have a death sentence
hanging over us. Few of us are clinging to life. We are just
living it. But what are we doing with our lives? Are we gain for
Christ? Are we help to others? If we are not now, what makes us
think we will suddenly change when we learn we are dying? Further,
if we only change because we are desperately clinging to this
life, we will have really missed the point. This is a great
paradox. The fact is, when we live and then cling to life for the
proper reasons, we really won’t be upset if God takes us out of
this life. After all, death is gain for us who have lived for
Christ and others. C.
Thus, the real question of this lesson is not why will you
cling to life. The real question is how are you living right now? Conclusion: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,” (Revelation 14:13—ESV). Death is a blessing for God’s children. Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting we should all be looking for our ticket out of this life. I’m merely pointing out that when we have the proper faith we won’t cling to this life desperately as if death is the worst thing in the world. Further, while we are living in this life or clinging to this life, we will do so for Christ’s gain and to help others. Again, we ask our question; How are we living?
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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