Father, what we know not, we pray that you would teach us. And Lord, what we have not, we pray you would give us. And what we are not, we ask that you would make us, mold us and make us into the image of your Son. Teach us what philosophy of life we should have, how to look at life from your perspective. We ask it in Jesus' name. All right, Philippians chapter one. I was with my friend at the bookstore yesterday on my way back from Portland, and he said he started preaching through Philippians one time and he wished that he had not. He said because it was so rich that he wanted to have more time to study and look at things. And then this happens to her, haven't you? When you're doing something, you're thinking about something else. He was thinking about other verses he wanted to preach on as well. And so I thought, well, you know, I understand that now, having looked at it, it's really a wonderful book. But what is the Christian's life and what is the Christian's death? That's really the question this morning. A young man came to W.E. Gladstone when Gladstone was prime minister of England. And he said, Mr. Gladstone, I would appreciate your giving me a few minutes in which I might lay before you my plans for the future. I would like to study law. Yes, said the great statesman. And what then? Well, then, sir, I would like to gain entrance to the Bar of England. Yes, young man. And what then? Well, then, sir, I would hope to have a place in Parliament in the House of Lords. Yes, young man. What then? Pressed Gladstone. Well, then I hope to do great things for Britain. Yes, young man. And what then? Well, then, sir, I hope to retire and take life easy. Yes, young man, and what then? He tenaciously asked. Well, then, Mr. Gladstone, I suppose I will die. Yes, young man, and what then? The young man hesitated and then said, well, I never fought any further than that, sir. And looking at the young man sternly and steadily, Gladstone said, young man, you are full. Go home and think life through. Here's a question that you need to ask yourself, and I've been asking myself all week long. What am I living for? Have I fought life through as Gladstone was telling this young buck to do? And here's the question. Maybe you have. If you have, great. If you haven't. Even better, because that's what we're going to talk about. But does your life's purpose include some thought about death and what lies beyond? Not morbidly introspective, but realistically practical from God's perspective. Does your life's purpose include death and what lies beyond, or will your death end and thus ruin your reason for living? That's the question. I'm going to say some things that are going to be hard to hear, by the way, they're hard for me to preach, by the way, I've attempted not to preach the sermon. It happens to me quite often, but especially today, for one thing, the text is towering above me. But for another thing, it is really, really practical and hard and convicting to live out. The apostle Paul sums up not just the purpose of his life. The point he's not saying for me to live as Christ may not be for you. It's not saying it like that. He's not saying for me being a super apostle, my purpose is Christ to live. No, he's not saying that. He's saying this is the purpose for how many people? Every Christian. And so it's not just Paul's purpose. He's summing up the purpose of every Christian's life. He said, for me to live is Christ. That's our text. And to die is gain. And Lloyd-Jones says this is the most thorough test of our Christian faith we'll ever encounter. And why? And here's the point. Here's the point. So simple that if for you this morning to live is Christ, then for you to die will be gain. But if for you to live is not Christ, then death will be your eternal loss. Are you with me? OK, it's just so simple. Consider a few questions from the text. If you look at your outline, I could not be simpler this morning, by the way. I thought about all the sub points it needs to have. It does need to have sub points, by the way, but not today because it's a day of communion. We need to be to the point. But two questions from the text, first question is this, is Christ your life? Now, notice the context. Greg read it, did a great job in terms of What setting this jewel, this pearl of great price is set in. Paul's in prison as he writes this letter. And the theme that runs through all of the letter is joy. But why was Paul rejoicing? And he tells us because Christ was being preached because of Paul's imprisonment, some out of vainglory, some out of what? You know, good motives. And he says, it doesn't matter, I'm going to rejoice because why? Christ is preached because of my imprisonment. Some of the brethren have been bold because of my imprisonment. So prison gave Paul the opportunity to get Christ's sufficiency into perspective. How so? Well, think about Paul in prison. Paul wasn't tempted with fornication, but he probably was tempted with frustration. Amen. Wouldn't have been any other ladies in the prison. They probably had a separate prison for them. Right. And self-indulgence would be no problem on a prison diet. Amen? But self-pity would have probably been a massive problem. Woe is me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Christ was not only Paul's reason for living, but also Paul's resource for living. You see it? Not just his reason, but his resource. Christ was not merely Paul's purpose for living, he was that, but Christ was also his provision for living the Christian life. Well, what does he mean? To me, to live is Christ. What is he saying there? That living, this is the way Mool puts it, I love it. Hanley Mool, he puts it this way, he says that Living was for Paul so full of Christ, so preoccupied with him and for him that Christ sums it up, sums up Paul's life, Christ sums up his life. And so Paul explains it in the verses that follow. And look, and I got some of this from John Piper. I want you to see this in his book, Don't Waste Your Life. Look what Paul does. First, Paul's life was dedicated to producing spiritual fruit. Look at verse 22. He talks about fruitful labor. If I am living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. But not just that. Notice what he does in verse 24. Secondly, Paul's life was devoted to producing a fruit that was very necessary for the Philippian believers to have. He says, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. And then third and finally, Paul's life was devoted to increasing their faith and helping it overflow with joy. Verse 25, he says, Notice what he says. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for progress, your progress and joy in the faith. So what's Paul's point? According to verse 20, look what he says in the context. Paul had one aim in life, one aim in death. And what was it? Notice what he says, that Christ Be honored, whether that's by his life or whether that's by his death, that Christ be honored. Your text may say that he would be magnified. OK, that's Paul's whole point for living. That was his single passion in life and in death. And according to verse twenty five, it's the same aim as to promote the progress and the joy in the Philippians faith. That is why Paul believed that God might let him live a little bit longer. In other words, Paul is saying My life, Philippian believers, is devoted to producing in you that one great experience of heart by which Christ is magnified. Namely, that you're satisfied in Him and with Him. Not just His gifts, but the giver. You see it? And that, therefore, if you're satisfied in Him, you'll be joyfully treasuring Him above all else, including your own life. That's what Paul's saying. Now, if you say to me, yeah, that sounds good in theory, Sean, Pastor, but how does that happen in our lives? And that's exactly what I want to unpack. It's not a thing that happens once for all. It's a process that takes place as we live in daily fellowship or our communion with Christ. And we're depending on him for everything. It means the way Paul describes it in Philippians. It means growing to know Christ intimately. Paul says in verse 10 of chapter three that I may know him. and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of the suffering, and be conformed to His death, that I may know Him. It means growing in love with Christ. Growing to love Him with all my heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. It means submitting all my thoughts, and my feelings, my words, and my deeds to the Lordship of Jesus. Why? So that I seek to please Him in all respects. It means growing to experience Christ as my all in all. So that every aspect of life must be centered around the Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious person of Christ, and nothing less is the Christian life. So Paul was not self-centered. He was what? Christ-centered. Exactly. It's how simple it is. You say, can it be that simple? Yes. And to live also means to die to my selfish desires. Well, why? In order that I might live to serve others for Jesus' sake. Look what Paul says in verse 23, that Paul desired to depart and be with Christ. So Paul's got this dilemma, right? He's got a dilemma. I don't know which one's better. Should I choose life or death? Right. He doesn't know. But deep down, he desires to go and be with Christ, which is far better, he said, better by far. Right. But he realizes also that the Philippians and others need his ministry, and so he's willing to deny his desires. Why? For the sake of serving others for Christ's sake. Now, of course, the final decision is as to whether Paul lived or died. It rested with the Lord. But Paul was willing, at least we say this, he's willing to live on in fruitful service if that's what the Lord wanted him to do. Well, here's a question. So what? So Paul denies himself. What's the big deal? What's that got to do with anything with me? This is a great question. Two applications. There's lots of them, but let me just bring out two applications of this. That if you're not denying yourself in order to serve Christ by serving others, then you're living for your what? Yourself. There's only two Christ's that are living for yourself. And many people today think that Christ is there to serve them rather than they are there to serve Christ. You know, Christ exists for me. Don't you know that? No, you exist for him. What can you do for me, Lord? We're a needy people, Sean. Shouldn't we come to church for what we can get? The answer is no, no. Sometimes it's going to seem like I contradict myself in sermons, but we want and maybe that's a good thing in some ways, because we need to grow. If you believe the same thing you believe last year, then you're probably not growing. Amen. In some ways, because you need to be changing. We need to be reforming as we go. But some people think the church is there to meet their needs, and if if that doesn't happen, they drop out, they just try to find better, you know, better church that will meet their needs. But the Bible teaches that we've been saved to serve Christ. We don't think of it like that. Saved to serve. Save to serve. You say, well, that sounds like it's a pragmatic thing, utilitarianism, and God just uses us like instruments and throws us away. The answer is what? No way. That's not it. It's not at all. Paul's longing to go be with Jesus because he knows he's going to be rewarded when he sees him on that day. So if you're not denying yourself in order to serve Christ, you're not living Christ. And if you're not living Christ, you're living for yourself. Think about it. selfish Christians. It's an oxymoron, amen? But secondly, I'm going to get really meddling here, because some of you are retired. Christians should challenge the American notion of retirement. Why? The idea that when you finally reach a point where you don't have to work, you're free to live for yourself and your pleasure is not scriptural. It's not scriptural. And any time the Lord gives us, any time, anything he gives us, we're to manage for him, seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness, so that as long, Christian, as he gives us health and strength, we should ask, how can I serve you, Lord? I'm getting some nods. That's good. Here's my point. Being freed from a job should mean that you're free to spend more time furthering the Lord's work. You say, well, how? Give your time to the church. We've got a gutter out here that's all nasty and needs to be sprayed and painted. That's one thing you could do. We've got some rust out front that could be wire brush, you know. You say, well, a building, it's all going to burn anyway. Really, it's the Lord's place. You know, that sounds like dispensationalism run amuck, amen? It's all going to burn anyway. No, it's whatever you have, manage it and stew it for the glory of God. Give your time to the church. Go to a mission. I got a guy that I met, a friend of mine, and he volunteers and he goes and helps people that are just struggling and hurting. And they've been they had lost loved ones. And he just goes and listens and just lets him talk, actively listens. How about going to a foreign country to help out in the cause of Christ? You say, Are you kidding me, man? I might get killed if I go overseas to the Arabs and stuff. To die is what? What are you worrying about? What are you afraid of? Some of us aren't thinking outside our comfort zone. We don't risk anything. Charles Simeon, a British preacher in the 1800s, listen to this. He worked so long and hard for Christ and late in life. This is what he said. I cannot but run with all my might, for I am close to the goal. I'm thinking that many of us Christians were thinking, I'm so close to heaven that I can relax and take it easy now. That's the American dream, and it's not biblical. Did you hear me? I worked hard and now I can kick back and spend it on me and myself and my own selfish desire. Really? If God gives you one moment, it's for his glory. Is that what you're using it for? Are you seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness? Think about it. And thus then, Christian, listen, to live means that your one aim in life is to honor Him. How? Paul says it. By daily living in fellowship with Christ. Why? So that He's your all in all. Deny yourself. You die to yourself. Pick up your cross daily and follow Him. And what would that look like? Serving other people. Paul says in the second chapter, I'm tempted to preach this, but he says, I have no one like Timothy. No one, he says, no one like Timothy, who genuinely seeks after the things of Jesus Christ, who's generally interested in your good. No one like Timothy, no one. One Christian? Out of all your fellow laborers, Paul, there's no one as unselfish as Timothy? No one. That's pretty high flute and stuff, beloved. Could Paul say that about us? Let me ask, is that true of your life that Christ, your one aim in life is to honor for him to be magnified, that you daily fellowship with him so that he's your all in all and that you're dying to yourself that you might serve others on his behalf? Is that true of your life? Listen to this. More so, this is what's true. A shrink named William Marston. You know what I mean by shrink? Never saw a shrink who didn't need a shrink. He was a psychologist, and he asked 3,000 people, what have you to live for? And he was shocked to find that 94% were simply enduring the present while they were waiting for the future. Interesting. And they described it as waiting for something, quote unquote, to happen. They were waiting for children to grow up and leave the house. They're waiting for the next year. They're waiting for time to take a long dreamed about trip. They're waiting for tomorrow. They were all waiting without realizing that all we ever have is what? Yeah, because tomorrow may never happen. There's no guarantee on it. Isn't that right? Let me ask you this. What are you? waiting to live for? Are you waiting to really live? This is the way one person put it. The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. Now, listen, this is key. What is your attitude toward life? Let me suggest three attitudes that people have. Do you view life as a burden to be endured? Some people do. There's a lot of people that do. But let me get closer to home. Do you view life as a battle to be escaped? Many Christians do. I want my get out of jail card free like Paul wanted. I want to just get out of here. By the way, that wasn't his attitude. We'll see why. Or thirdly, thirdly, not a burden to be endured, not a battle to be escaped. But do you see it as a blessing from God to be enjoyed? You say, well, that's what I was talking about. Retirement, man. It's all about me. No! A blessing to be enjoyed and employed. What would I employ it for? The glory of God, maybe, you think? Which would look like the good of others, you think, maybe? So, turn inward. And Paul, he receives life as a blessing from God to be enjoyed and employed for the glory of God and the good of others. As long as he's there, he says, I'll spend and be spent for the gospel's sake. That's what he's saying. Do you get it? I wonder. That's the way one person put it. The clarity and the sanity of Paul's passionate conviction shows the shallow tragedy of so many in his day and in our day. For example, among the ruins of ancient Carthage, there's an inscription carved by a Roman soldier. This is the way he wrote, to laugh, to hunt, to bathe, to game, that is life. To laugh, to hunt, to bathe, to game, that is life. Let me ask you this, finish the sentence, honestly, in your head, in your heart, even right now. For to me, to live is, finish it. Is it Christ, really? According to the tabloids and celebrity magazines, for me to live is to fornicate. For me to live is to accumulate, isn't it? For me to live is to dine well. Or on a more commonplace level where most of us live, for me to live is to golf. You say, I don't like golf. Good. For me to live is to work. A lot of us would have to say that. We spend a lot of time there. We think about it. We escape home because maybe we're in an unhappy marriage. We go to work. For me to live is to golf, to work, to garden. Anything wrong with gardening? No. Unless it keeps you from living for who? Christ. For me to live is to travel. For me to live is to watch TV. Oh, I can't even go there. For me to live is to spend time on the Internet or to ski or even to shop till I drop. Sometimes I wonder, I'm in a goodwill and I'm looking for another book. Do I need another book? No. Yeah, exactly. If that is your life, if that's my life, then death is the loss of all those things. Amen. That's what Paul's saying. And that brings us to the second question of our text. First, is Christ your life? Ask yourself. For to me, to live is what? Secondly, though, will death be your gain? This is really a strange way to say this. How can dying be gain? Well, again, I go back to what Piper said. He said, death is a threat to the degree that it frustrates your goals. Death is fearful to the degree that it robs you of what you treasure most in this life. But Paul treasured Christ most, and Paul's goal was to magnify Christ. And thus, Paul saw death not as a frustration of that goal, but an occasion for fulfillment. Question, is that how you see death? Is that how I see death? Now, think of this. Think of these polar opposites, life and death. They seem completely opposite to us and great enmity or hostility with each other. But for Paul and for all those who share Paul's faith, there's a unity. Why? Because the same great passion is fulfilled in both. Namely, that Christ will be magnified in this body, this physical body, our bodies, whether by life or by death. That's what Paul's saying. So to die is gain raises the question to gain what? Ask yourself, what is Paul gaining by death? And the answer could only be for Paul to gain Christ. He uses the word gain three times in scripture. Titus 1.11, he talks about the dishonest gain of false teachers. But in chapter three, Paul uses it. It's the only three places it's used. He says, whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. So all these earthly gains that Paul could look at, I'm a Hebrew of Hebrews, I'm a Pharisee, I was from the tribe of Benjamin. As to the law, outwardly, I was blameless. All these things in his asset column, he said he counted them as loss. He looked at them as gain before he realized who Jesus really is. So since Christ was Paul's life, then death would mean closer communion with Christ. So that death takes us into more intimacy with Christ. And we depart and are with Him, which is our gain. So the question is, if you're experiencing Him in death, then you're magnifying Him, right? In that way. And it's far better than living here. We say, really? Is death far better? Is it really better than all the friends I have? Ask yourself. Would death be better than the friends you have? You say, yeah, some of my friends, you knew them. Death would be better. I like that. How about this? Would death be better than falling in love? I mean, when people fall in love, they do strange things, amen? I mean, you see a couple that are all like, oh, you know, you're like, well, hopefully they'll snap up and get over that quick, you know? Come on, some of you know what I'm talking about, right? How about this? Can death be better than having and hugging your children? Some people live for their kids, isn't it true? How about this? Can death be better than professional success? What's your portfolio look like, pal? Really? Can death be better than retirement in grandchildren? Paul is saying yes, a thousand times better. Why? Is departing with Christ better than staying here? He says yes. Why? The best is yet to come. And I don't mean a fat pension with a luxurious condominium. I mean Christ. He says Christ is my life and therefore death is my gain. Can you say that? Can I say that this morning? I mean, for Paul to actually be with Christ, to be at home with the Lord, that can never be disassociated as gain from the gain for the cause of Christ. that in his person Christ may be magnified, that death is the gateway to a clearer knowledge, a more wholehearted service, a more exuberant joy, a more rapturous adoration, and all of these brought to a focus in Christ. That's why Paul says, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, to die is gain. Why? It brings more of Christ to Paul and it brings more of Paul to Christ. Is that how we look at it? Most of the time we don't. I've been at funerals, by the way, beloved. I've done two of them. And people talk about the new tires they got for their car. Really, they talk about their new iPhone or iPad or whatever. They don't talk about death. We try to avoid it in our country, don't we? Reminds me of Woody Allen when he said, he said, he said, it's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens. How many people are like that? Lots of people in our, in our society, and maybe even some of us. But let me clarify something. Paul is not morbid and he's not suicidal. Why? Paul does not mean that a Christian should desire death because he or she hates life. It's not what he's saying. Paul didn't hate life. How do we know? Look at verse 18. He is filled with joy even though his circumstances stunk. He's in prison. And yet he's filled with joy. How can it be? Some of us need to just park there this morning and think about it and ponder it this week. Sometimes when life is difficult or when a person suffers from a chronic, you know, painful disease or he or she is going through trials and prolonged trials and difficulties. That person may long for relief and be tempted to take his or her own life. It happened to a number of people in the Bible. I'm talking some really big names like Moses and Elijah and Jeremiah. I don't know about Jonah, but I guess we'll talk about him. But they all hit points where they asked God to take their lives. Listen, I'm going to say a word here. Suicide is never God's will for anyone. Do you know why? It does not exalt Christ as Paul here wants his death to do. It's always a selfish act done in disregard of those left behind to grieve. Suicide usurps the sovereignty of God because life and death are in whose hands? God's. Amen. And God has a fruitful purpose for every believer's life. Listen, Christians, you should love life. You should view it. Why? As an opportunity to serve the Lord gratefully. Are you listening to me? Paul was not suicidal. He was not morbid. No, but he was expendable. And this is what many of us are not. We might be morbid. We may be suicidal. But we're not risking our lives for the sake of the gospel. Paul was willing to spend and be spent. He's expendable. He's saying here that if God were to call him to heaven, that suited him just fine. Why? Because he knows he'll be with the Lord. So Paul's not viewing life as tough and death as an escape patch or a relief valve. No. Listen to this. I ran into a conversation between George Whitfield and a Puritan minister named William Tennant. And Whitfield was speaking on the burden of his labors, you know, and his comfort or consolation that in a short time he's going to die and be with Christ. And so this is what Whitfield did. He turned to Tenet and he said, well, Brother Tenet, you are the oldest man among us. Don't you rejoice that your time is near at hand to be with Christ? And Mr. Tenet answered, I have no wish about it. I love it. I have no wish about it. But Whitfield pressed him on the issue. Mr. Tenet answered. Now, listen to this. No, sir, it is of no pleasure to me at all. And if you knew your duty, it would be none to you either. I have nothing to do with death. My business is to live as long as I can, as well as I can, and to serve my Lord and master as faithfully as I can until he should think proper to call me home. That should be our attitude, is it? It will show in our actions if it is. And yet, to die is gain means that the Christian death releases him or her from earthly labors. from trials, from temptations. Why do I say that? Paul worked hard. Paul suffered much for the cause of Christ. You could see it. Second Corinthians 11, he talks about stonings and beatings and shipwrecks and imprisonments and all this stuff that he went through and fastings. And, you know, he went through a lot of stuff, storms, etc. And verse 23 sounds like he's ready to hear the Lord say, come on home to your rest, Paul. Why? He uses the word to depart. Notice what he says in verse 23. I am hard pressed between the two. He's a dilemma. I don't know which one to choose life or death. My desire, though, he's saying what is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better. The word depart was a word used of soldiers taking down their tents to move on. Paul saying, hey, that at death, our tent, our old bodies as is taken down while our spirit goes to be at home with the Lord. Is anybody afraid to go home? Why would you be afraid to go home? You say, well, you don't know. You don't know who's waiting for me. I get it. But normally, we're not afraid to go home. The word depart was also used for sailors. They used it to describe a ship being loose from its mooring to set sail. And at death, the believer sets sail from this world, but it safely arrives at heaven's shore. And the word depart was used as a political word describing the freeing of a prisoner. What's Paul saying? That this body which holds us prisoner to various temptations and weaknesses, yes, but at death will be set free from that. That's the way Spurgeon put it. He said, oh, he said, if we could not die, it would be horrible indeed. He said, who wants to be chained to this poor life for another century or longer? It's a good question, isn't it? It's a great question to me. And the word was also used by farmers, meaning to unyoke the oxen when the work was over. So death means laying down the burdens and concerns of our labor for Christ here and joining him in that place where there'll be no death, no mourning, no crying and no pain. You see, the question is this, what makes death gain? What is it? It's not merely that the earthly misery is put behind us, but that the heavenly delight into which it will usher us, that delight of being with the Savior who loved us and gave himself for us. To death is like the front porch to home, amen? Is that how we see it? You say, no, it's the enemy! But Jesus has conquered the enemy, amen? When he rose from the dead. Yes, when he rose from the dead. So here's the question. Was Paul afraid to die? And the answer is no. Why? Because he knew that Christ had conquered death and such a conviction will banish pessimism to this morning. If you're here today and you're pessimistic, some of you are maybe anybody cynical. The glass is not half empty. It's it's bone dry. Come on, you look at the political situation. You look at Ebola. You look at all this stuff that goes on in our world. You look at just how many taxes you got. You know, sometimes you get pessimistic. You get cynical. Someone calls you and says, I got a free trip to Hawaii. You hang up, don't you? I do. Paul's saying life allows us to serve Christ now and at death we will see Christ face to face. So that living becomes so much more exciting when death can be welcome. Listen, here's the point again, and Piper said it. If we know how to die well, we will know how to live well. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Are you afraid to die? Many years ago, a ship known as the Empress of Ireland went down with 130 salvation officers on board their chaplains. along with many other passengers and only 21 of the Salvation Army people survived. And of the hundred and nine people that drowned, not one of them had a life preserver. And many of the survivors told how these brave people, these Christians, seeing that there was not enough life preservers, they took off their own preservers and gave them to others, saying, I know, Jesus, I can die better than you can. Christian. How about you? You say, well, I know Jesus! You tell the unbeliever that you can die better than him or her? It's a great way to witness, isn't it? Death is coming. Are you ready for it? I can die. I'm ready for it. Are you ready for it? How could they do that? For the Christian death is only the doorway to glory. Why? The best is yet to come. Do you believe that? We say sometimes, this is why Friday looks better than Monday. Do we live for the weekends? No, we better live for Christ. But there's something to look forward to. Let me give another example of this. In A.D. 404, John Chrysostom was brought in before the Roman emperor. And this is what he said. The emperor threatened him with banishment if he remained a Christian. You need to deny Christ. Chrysostom responded. You cannot banish me for this world is my father's house. But I will kill you, said the emperor. No, you cannot, said Chrysostom, for my life is hid with Christ in God. Well, I will take away your treasures, said the emperor. No, you cannot. For my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there. But I will drive you away from your friends and you will have no one left. Chris Austin replied, No, you cannot. For I have a friend in heaven from whom you cannot separate me. I defy you. There's nothing you can do to harm me. Christian, is that you? You see, that's why Paul says we're not just conquerors, but we're more than. Listen, you cannot lose if Christ is your life. Why? Death is your gain. You see it? Do you see it? I wonder, do you see it? I want to give another example of this that I read. Helen Rosevere, she talks about how these rebels, soldiers, came and took her captain. She was beaten, flung on the ground, kicked, teeth broken. mouth and nose gashed and ribs bruised and driven at gunpoint back to her home, jeered and insulted and threatened. At one point she was even raped. She was asking God, why? Why? How could you let this happen to me? Have you ever asked that? Of course, we have all of us in different ways. God, why? Why? She said. In the darkness, the loneliness, the Lord met me. He was right there. A great, wonderful, almighty God. His love enveloped me and suddenly the Y dropped away from me and an unbelievable peace flowed in, even in the midst of the wickedness. And God breathed a word into my troubled mind. And the word was ready. Privilege, privilege. And this is what he said. These are not your sufferings. They are not beating you. These are my sufferings. All I ask is for the loan of your body. You're not your own. You're bought with a price. Paul says, whether by life or by death, I want God to be magnified. I want to be honored. God is asking you this morning, will you offer your body to me as a living sacrifice? We say everything we have is on loan for God from him. Well, even our bodies. Yes, even our bodies. So let me close with this thought before we go to communion. In Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, Alice asked the Cheshire cat, would you tell me, please, which way to go from here? The cat replies, well, that depends a good deal on where you want to get to. Well, I don't much care where, says Alice. Then it doesn't matter which way you go, says the cat. And then he says, you're sure to get somewhere if only you walk long enough. Let me ask, where do you want to get this morning? If you want to get to heaven, then you need to consider the question, what am I living for? Money, success, happiness, pleasure, fun, good times, family, ultimately for self. If so, then to die will be a terrible loss. not again. But if with Paul this morning, you can honestly say, as you evaluate your life, for to me, to live is Christ. And then you can also say with all the confidence of God's Word behind you, and to die is gain. Amen.