Tuesday, 14 August 2007

• Currently Listening For All You've Done By Hillsong see related

  .:: oF DyInG & GaInInG ::.

  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

  We had a discussion on Philippians chapter 1 for cell group yesterday night.

  I just had a little thought in the verse. There were the usual and common explanation of understanding on this verse.

  To live is to be able to live in Christ and for Christ. Then, the highlight came into the scene when people started questioning the part where it says, "to die is gain". Then came answers like, as Christians, even dying is gain because by that, we will be with Christ in heaven. --> please refer to the whole context of the whole passage to understand this.

  Then there were also discussion about differences between good and not-so-good Christians that doesn't do God's will. Will they gain too? Can they still gain if they die? But I shall not add into that, most of you should know the answer to that. For those who wants to know more, please refer to Matthew 7.

  I am not in a mission to prove it wrong. As I gave it a little thought, I had more questions.

  As Christians, we have the comfort of knowing and an assurance of what lies ahead and what is in store when we depart this world. We believe there are greater things in store, a greater place that is prepared before us and for us.

  As a believer, knowing well sin separates us from God, we know for sure God hates them and with that in our lives, we might even lose that salvation if we deliberately sin and not repent. I stress --> DELIBERATE SIN and REJECTION of the LORDSHIP OF CHRIST. If you have doubts and question about this, please approach me for further explanation.

  Let's be honest here, I believe no Christians want to die while caught red-handed. No one wants to have to meet God before they repent. No one wants to die when they are living a life of sin. All of us hope that such things won't happen to ourselves.

  Imagine this, if you are sinning right now, and suddenly Jesus turn up and all of us are brought for judgement. *POOF* You don't want that to happen to you, do you? It's during that moment that dying and meeting God would be the last thing that you want to happen in your "I-Want-to-be" list. Agree with me or not, I've been there.

  My point is, sometimes, it is not just about being a good or not-so-great Christians in the 'gaining' part. It's about being able to say "to die is gain" every moment of our lives. For every breath that we take, can we confidently confess before God that if I die today, I 'gain'. I am not trying to dispute the principles of Salvation (which is something that I don't want to go into in this entry.), but I believe that there is more in gaining.

  Whatever type of Christians you are(I don't like labelling the types cause I don't find the benefit of doing so), are you living a life that at the end of the day, you can truly say, "I Gain!"? I believe it's something personal. It's an account between you and God. It's not something I can say on your behalf, neither can one decide for the other's behalf.

  One of the things that I learned lately is that, previous accumulated account does not "cover up" your present problems or mistakes or sins. It's just like a car insurance which will not insure your home even if you knock it down with you car. It's a different insurance and so is your account with God. Your past achievements does nothing to make you look better before God if you sin today. The truth is, you have sinned today.

  Oh, and have you ever met anyone who has been struggling through and through for years over their sins and yet still bound by it? And do you know that such people sometimes wish God could take them 'home' so that they could commit less sin throughout their lives? What about that? Can they still 'gain'?

  All right, I hope this entry is not too controversial. Let's start some discussion, if you may, leave some thoughts. I'll be grateful if you do.

  Thanks and God Bless.

  • 1:03 AM
  • 149 Views
  • 4 eProps
  • 7 Comments