Life in Christ: Finding True Purpose in Living and Dying

Acts 6:10: “But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.”

“Thus wisdom, in its positive connotations, is something inherent in God, reflected in creation, and a part of the reason for human existence. Godly wisdom in creation is reflected in the form and order which emerged out of primeval chaos; the world may hold meaning for mankind only because it reflects in its structure the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God in the creation of mankind means that human life may also be marked by form and order, and that meaning in life may be found in the created world which contains the marks of wisdom. The wisdom of God is thus creative, purposeful, and good; it is not merely the intellectual activity of God.” [1]

Life is Christ; Death is Gain

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:21–24).

Very few people in our culture see death as gain. And if they do, it is usually a distorted view that death is an escape from the pain of life. Death is not an escape but a move from good to better. Death is gain because it means being with Christ. Life is not a disaster to escape but an opportunity to embrace Christ. This passage took on a life-changing reality in the Spring of my ninth-grade year.

Along with many of us as teenagers, I was a bit geeky with oily hair and not the best hygiene. In many ways, I did not feel like I fit in anywhere. I was lost, unsure of who I was and why I was here on earth. I began to wrestle with my purpose for living and was not coming up with good reasons. As a Christian, I knew heaven was a much better place, so I thought it would make sense to go there now.

I went to my dad and calmly shared with him that I was going to go to heaven now and why. Thankfully, my dad took me right to Philippians 1. He agreed that it is better to be in heaven, but he showed me Paul’s perspective—that it is better still to live for Christ, for others’ sake. You see, suicide is the ultimate selfish act; it is never the right choice. At that point, my life radically changed. I made a decision to live only for Jesus Christ. From that moment, I carried a Bible to school every day and openly shared Christ. They called me “Jesus” and “Bible-boy.” I have never moved from that mission.

[1] Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Wisdom, Wisdom Literature.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible 1988: 2149. Print.