Gain vs. Loss

I was at the funeral last night of a young woman who served on the youth ministry staff of our West Side location. She died in her sleep at age 32, unexpectedly, after spending most of her life pouring herself out for others in the name of Jesus.

The message was preached by the pastor of that location, Jamie Thompson. I thought it was quite profound. It was essentially this:

To live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

If "to live" constitutes anything else but Christ, then to die is loss. If to live is self, or if to live is pursuit of pleasure or comfort or status or possessions... even if to live is Family, then to die is loss.

Dying is only gain if living is Christ.