To Me To Live Is Christ

The Apostle Paul said, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20,21).

“To me to live is Christ” has been  a very personal testimony for me for a long time. It became even more important when I attended a Christian seminar in New York many years ago.  Taking a stroll around the building, I saw “TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST” written in big bold letters on a signpost in the courtyard. My eyes were ‘fixed’ on this text as I praised God for the joys of salvation in Christ Jesus my Lord, and living for Him.

Would to God that Christians consider this text as their ”standard” for living. The Christian life is actually the outliving of the in-living Jesus Christ, and to the point as Paul says to die is gain. You see, salvation is a present possession to prepare us for God’s heaven. As the song says: “No you can’t go to heaven without (salvation) S-A-L-V-A-T-I-O-N. Shout it out loud and clear.” 

I was raised in a Christian home by godly parents. My father, a Church pastor, led  his family in daily devotions and prayers. We never missed attending Church services. I can honestly and sincerely testify that I have absolutely no regrets. I am like Timothy in the Bible when Paul said to him, “From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15).

Raised in a Christian home by godly parents is a good thing. But it cannot “make me a Christian.” I must personally accept Jesus Christ as my Savior, believing “God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). I have believed in Jesus Christ, therefore, I have eternal life. The Bible also says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9,10).

In today’s world, it is not easy to live a godly life. Neither is it easy to take a stand for those things that are most surely believed among Christians. Christians accept and believe “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). 

This world is not my home. Heaven is my home. The Bible points out, “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14). And also, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

(Philippians 3:20). So then, my true citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, my allegiance is to Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who resides in heaven.

To me to live is Christ means I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ, as the Scripture teaches. “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is a person who represents the head of his telling people how they can have a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, who loves them and died for them.

To me to live is Christ is my inspiration for living and doing God’s will. My utmost must always be for His highest. This present world is not going to last forever. The Bible exhorts us: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15,17). C.T. Studd, British missionary to China (1860-1931) said it best, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” 

To me to live is Christ means being obedient to God’s word by practicing what it teaches. For instance, the Lord Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27). This indeed is most precious. It means that my love for God must be a sincere and heartfelt love, since it involves my heart, my soul, my strength, and my mind. The Lord also said “and your neighbor as yourself. “

To me to live is Christ also means I can’t love God and don’t love my neighbor. My neighbors are those who live in my community and those who do not. English theologian, John Wesley (1703-1791), said the following, which is worth putting into practice. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can. At all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” 

During His earthly life and ministry, the Lord Jesus certainly exhibited kindness, love, compassion, and concern for others. Let us follow His  example.