paul is old and paul is tired. he has been in prison for four years. and he's ready to go on to heaven. they've taken every single thing from him -- friends, ministry, freedom, privacy. they've taken everything from him except the one thing that cannot be taken from you and that is a purpose to live for.
here is how he puts it. philippians 1.21 (ms), alive, i'm CHRIST's messenger; dead, i'm HIS bounty. life versus even more life! i can't lose.
now he's not suicidal. but he's anticipating death. he's not afraid of dying. death is just on to better things, out of the prison. "but while I'm here," he says, "i have a purpose for living."
what's your purpose? william james said it like this, ''the best use of your life is to invest it in something that will outlast it.'' in what are you investing your life?
it's great to be a CHRISTian, but i'm not a CHRISTian because i'm afraid i'm going to die tonight but because i've got to live tomorrow. even if there weren't a heaven it would be worth it becoming a believer just for the joy here on earth. the fact is that there is more to it than cars, nice homes and things that are here and now. only a fool would go all through life unprepared for something he knows will eventually happen at death.
people say, well she has a terminal sickness. listen all of us have a terminal sickness.
so what are you living for and what are you going to die for? if i live or die for CHRIST, i can't lose.
just a thought from my front porch...
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