…to die is gain. – Philippians 1:21b, KJV

As you live this life, you will be faced with three basic circumstances:

1. Life is good

2. Life isn’t good

3. Death

All of life’s computations and permutations fall into one of these three categories, and how you face each category – with or without Christ – will determine how each category shapes your character.

Most people claim death as one of the things they fear the most. This is understandable, considering what most people dwell on when they think about death. Most view death from a pessimistic standpoint, meaning they view death through the lens of “What will death cause me to lose?” Will they lose earthly relationships with loved ones? Will they lose their earthly possessions? Will they lose control over their future, not knowing clearly what is on the other side of death’s door? Of course, the answer to these questions is “yes,” and these thoughts of loss make death unwelcome for those who dwell on such thoughts.

Paul didn’t suffer from the stinking thinking about death that plagues most of us. Why? Because he understood that death isn’t so much about what we lose; it’s about what we gain. As Christians, we no doubt leave behind people and things that we love. But in comparison, we gain so much more: the wonder of being in God’s presence; an existence free from the power, presence, and penalty of sin; all of our needs and wants met; and the expectation that we will soon again enjoy the fellowship of our saved loved ones, once they join us in Heaven. This sense of gain was so real to Paul because Christ was so real to Paul. Christ can be just as real to us as He was to Paul, and if He is, then we’ll see death in the same spirit that Paul did – as gain. If Christ isn’t as real to us as He was to Paul, then we’ll view death in the same way most others do – as loss.

How do you view death? If you see it more as loss than as gain, don’t feel bad. Most people do. But understand that if you view death through the lens of loss, it does mean that your relationship with Christ isn’t what it should be. You either need to commune with Him more so that He can become as real to you as He was to Paul. Or, you may need to accept Christ as your Savior in the first place, for He will never be real to you until you first acknowledge Him for who He is – Lord of all.