FOR ME TO DIE IS GAIN

Philippians 1:21 – “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

When I read this verse I can’t help but think of the Reverend Desmond Elliott.

When the Mystical Order was launched in 2012 Desmond who grew up in the Revival Order in Jamaica wanted to be a part of this new, yet old experience. He was given some responsibility to lift the banner and to lift his torch high. In 2013 he was ordained as a Deacon and hands laid on him for the transferring of the anointing. He lived a committed life unto the Lord since that day. Today as you read this message he is no longer with us. He has signed in to a new residence where there is no more pain and the Lord is the light of the City.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Phillipi, the circumstances of his life weren’t exactly ideal.

• He was in prison
• Under house arrest in Rome
• Chained to a Roman soldier as his guard

Paul was a prisoner and yet this entire letter shouts with triumph. It is filled with the words “joy” and “rejoicing”.

Right Christian experience is the outworking of the life and mind of Christ in our lives whatever our circumstances might be.

Reverend Desmond Elliott lived the last years of his life a prisoner in a body that was filled with sickness and pain – yet he never complained. He seemed to show joy and to rejoice in his affliction. Throughout his final days, he would send messages to inform me of his progress and I would pray constantly that God will show compassion and grant grace and mercy. Therefore, when he signed his name on the register it was time for him to leave us peacefully.

To those who do not believe in God – Life on earth is the best there is. For the non-Christian, it is only natural to strive for the world’s values. Money – Popularity – Power – Prestige.

For the Christian it is different. – “To die is gain”

What do we gain? This is a question we ask ourselves daily. What is there to gain in this life?

1. We Gain a better body – a glorified, immortalized, resurrected body.

In this present body of clay, we are subject to all the sorrows and tears that life is heir to. Age, sickness, and finally death are the inevitable end of this house made of the dust of the earth. But in death and the resurrection, we gain a better body, one that can never grow old, no disease, suffering of pain, and can never die. We gain a better body.

2. We Gain a better home.

However the beauty and the embellishments of any house we may possess in this world, it is nothing compared with our mansion in the beautiful city of God. Look at the promise of our Lord in John 14:1-3.

1. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

The longing of the Apostle Paul for his home in heaven is expressed in Philippians 1:23

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

3. We Gain a better inheritance.

Our final reward is not here – it is in Heaven.

4. We Gain a better fellowship.

All of us live in this world of a dissolving family circle. Mother is gone – Father is gone, or a child is gone, or our beloved grandparents are gone, or a close friend is gone. But the circle is unbroken in Heaven forever and ever. There is no death there, no sorrow or crying or pain, for these former things is passed away.

Jesus is there.

1. If “for me to live is Christ,” then to die is gain.
2. If for me to live is money – then to die is a loss.
3. If for me to live is self – then to die is a loss.
4. If for me to live is ambition – then to die is a loss.
5. If for me to live in sin – then to die is a loss.
6. But if for me to live is Christ – to die is gain.

I am referring you to this portion of Scripture in the Book of Revelation 21:1 thru 22:5. It is my prayer that you will read it and gain some knowledge of the hearafter. May Almighty God grant unto our dearly departed brother a rest from all his labours and as he awaits the reunion of the saints as Paul puts it in the Book of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

I pray you have a great time of rejoicing for to be absent from this body is to be with the Lord.

God bless you.