To live is Christ!

It is so easy to lose focus and start to think that life is about us. We spend entirely too much time thinking about ourselves and what we want. What is the goal of our lives? What's the point? Is for us to have a good time? For us to be glorified? For us to see our dreams come true?

Derek talked today about people suffering for Christ. The pains and the burdens that Christians bear, especially the persecuted Church. People are going to prison, being mistreated, and even dying because they are believers. But specifically he talked about the apostle Paul and everything he endured- beatings, prison, shipwrecks, hunger, abandonment- all to advance God's mission.

Remember what Paul said:

Philippians 1:21-26
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. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.


Yes, it would be so much better to die and be with Christ than to be in this world. Why are we still here??


...
Seriously, why are we still here?
What are we doing here? What's the point of us being here?
We've received salvation, we love God... why are we still here? Why can't we all just go and be with Jesus?

Essentially Paul was saying that the reason why he's still here is to minister to others. He's here for their sake.

Philippians 1:23-24
I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Let me submit to you that like Paul, we are here not for ourselves, but for the world's sake. We are still here because we have do demonstrate and share Christ with others. To live is Christ!
We're not here to live lazy lives and pursue our own wants and dreams, just living for ourselves and only living for others when it's convenient.
I'm saying that the ONLY reason we're still here is to live for others.

You might say, "but what about the maturing process, enjoying God, enjoying God's blessings, isn't there a place for that?
Of course there is. I'm not saying that ministering to others is the only thing in life we can be doing. I'm saying that the only reason why we're doing those other things here and not in heaven is because here there are people who need us.
The Westminster Catechism states that "the chief end of life is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever". This is true, but we could be doing that in heaven. The reason why we're doing it here is so that we can show Christ to others.

We are here for the world's sake!

There have been times in my life where I was so frustrated I begged God to just take me home now. Just kill me and take me home now already. But now I know why he didn't grant my wish. He could take me home and solve all my problems and instantly mature me and glorify me, but he would rather do that down here and have me stay here because here I can be a light to others.

What's the point of your life? Is to live Christ or is to live Self?

[I also just want to quickly mention that I am the most self-absorbed, living for-himself kind of person. I don't want to sound like I've mastered all this and y'know, "hope you can join me at my level" kind of stuff, because I am way off. Paul said that he hasn't attained this stuff either. Never mind being like Christ, I can't even reach Paul's level! Let's press on.]