The world tells us that dying is a bad thing, so many people are afraid of it. When a person dies, her life appears to be over! Any goals and dreams she had? They die with her. She doesn’t get to spend anymore time with friends and family, she doesn’t get to travel to any new places, and she often misses out on making new and special memories with people. More than anything, death feels like an end. Merriam Webster defines death as “a permanent cessation of all vital functions; the end of life.”

As believers in Jesus, though, we can view death through a flipped lens. For people who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, death is just the beginning. While it may be the end of life as you know it, it’s actually the beginning of a better life in perfect communion with Jesus. 

At a funeral I attended this past summer, the pastor expounded on a verse from Philippians in a way that helped me think even more clearly about how Christians should view death. Here’s the verse: 

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. -Philippians 1:21

To actually think about DEATH as GAIN is very counter to our human tendencies. We usually consider LIFE to be gain instead. Life—this earthly life, to be specific—is what we’re familiar with. It’s what we know! As we plan, scheme and dream, we’re plotting out our time on this earth. We excitedly schedule our days, and on the other end of the spectrum, we often dread our looming earthly finish line. 

In his message at the funeral, the pastor dove into the meaning of Philippians 1:21 with some practical examples. He said, “If for me to live is money, then to die is loss. If for me to live is pleasure, then to die is loss. If for me to live is self, then to die is loss. If for me to live is ambition, then to die is loss. If for me to live is sin, then to die is loss. If for me to live is in this world, then to die is loss. But if for me to live is Christ, then to die is gain.”

Isn’t that profound to consider? If what we’re truly living for is pleasure, ambition, earthly accomplishments, ourselves, money, and/or anything worldly, then to die really WILL be loss for us! …because we placed our value and worth in things that cannot last. So if you really want to live out Philippians 1:21, you must decide that you’re living for Christ and Christ alone. If you are living for Jesus, then dying won’t feel like a loss at all because you’ll be stepping into His glorious presence for eternity. And if that’s the case, then death is surely nothing to fear.

Here’s the same verse in a couple other versions:

• For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity]. -Amplified Bible
• Christ means everything to me in this life, and when I die I’ll have even more. -God’s Word Translation
• To me, living means having Christ. To die means that I would have more of Him. -New Life Version
• Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his prize. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose. -The Message

I love The Message’s translation. Life versus even more life. It’s a win-win situation! No room for fear, worry, stress or dread. This version of Philippians 1:21 is emphasizing the fact that death is not what we’re moving toward as Christians at all. What the world sees as death is, for believers, actually a doorway into a life filled with more peace, more abundance, more blessing, more joy, more health, more contentment and more wholeness than life on planet earth could ever offer. Death is actually a stepping stone to something better than the best days you’ve ever had. Now that doesn’t seem like something to fear, does it? 

Will you be missing out on earthly events and happenings once you go home to Jesus? Yep. But will you feel sad that you’re missing out on those things? Not a chance. How do I know that for sure? Because the Bible tells us that for believers, death carries no sting. Not even a little prick of FOMO (fear of missing out) or disappointment! Death is victory, plain and simple. You aren’t afraid of a big ol’ victory, are you? I certainly hope not.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. -1 Corinthians 15:54-57