August 20 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Having a Christian view on life changes how we look at death as well. There are people outside the Christian community who see death as gain. They view death as a release from earthly troubles. Death for them is being able to walk away from present ills out into the unknown, perhaps into nonexistence. That’s why people consider suicide an alternative when they have lost all reason for living. They think that in this way they can escape the misery of life. But for Christians it is so different! We have comfort in death because we belong to a faithful Saviour.

In what sense is death gain for a believer? Paul reminds us that we have no need to take anything with us because what is on the other side of the grave is gain. Our treasure is in heaven! Death is gain because it relieves and liberates us from what weighs us down on this sinful earth. Death ends suffering, sin and the results of sin. Of course, death would not be gain if we could not say more than this. Death is gain for all Christians because it does not end, but rather intensifies, the communion we have with the Lord. Life in Christ is not destroyed but enriched. What could give us greater joy than to know that we will spend eternity with Christ without any interference or interruption!

When a believer dies he or she goes home! And isn’t that where we want to be? There’s no place like home! We go to the one who died for us and obtained eternal life for us! Not only do we go home to be with Christ, we get rid of the body of death, too. All that is sinful, defiled, impure, unholy and imperfect is removed. Though death itself is never pleasant, what follows physical death—being home with the Lord—makes it gain.

In verse 23 Paul describes death as departing. “To depart” has the idea of lifting the anchor of a ship. Once the anchor is lifted the ship of life takes us across the sea of death and allows us to arrive safely at our eternal destination. The word “depart” is also used for the lifting of a tent from its place, breaking up camp to carry on with a journey. When a Christian dies he leaves behind his earthly tent and enters a building not made with hands. Some day you and I will have to say our goodbyes as we make our way through the gate at the departure level. We are going home! How sweet the thought!