Have I Realized Arrival After Death is Much Sweeter?

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

Philippians 1:23b-24

We saw Paul's struggle last day. We saw that Paul is suspended between two worlds. He's in this in-between state wherein he says I'm on Earth, facing possible death, which would take me to Heaven. But maybe if I stay behind, it would be better.

In the above verses Paul describes his future possible death. Paul, first of all, says it's a departure. The word "depart" that he uses here is "analyo." And it means "to break up," "to unloose," or "to undo."

It was a word that was used by three groups of people in the olden times. Sailors used it. Soldiers used it. Farmers used it. Sailors used the word "depart" or "departure," when they were going to go from one port and sailed to another port, they would pull up the rope off the moorings, they would bring in the anchor, and they would move from one port to the next.

I think that is in Paul's mind, when he writes his last letter, 2 Timothy chapter 4, and he says, "for the time of my departure is at hand." Timothy, it's time for me to pull up the anchor and set sail. Much of the writing of the hymns if we observe is based upon this thought of meeting together, gathering together on that distant shore we call Heaven. For example, the hymn "I'll Fly Away." "Some glad morning when this life is over, I'll fly away. To a home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away."

Soldiers also used it. Soldiers were out camping, when they were fighting. And when it was time for them to move from one campsite to another or to go back home, they would break the camp up. And the word they used was "analyo." They'd break up the camp, and they'd move on.

And I like thinking about our lives that way. We're camping out here. This Earth is a campground, not much more than that. We're just passing through. Our permanent abode will be in Heaven. And one day, it'll be time for us to break up the camp, put away the tent, and move on.

The same word is used by farmers also. And it was used by farmers when they had an animal that had a yoke on it. Hope we know what a yoke it? It's a steering device, controlling device. At the end of a workday, when the yoke was lifted off the animal, the term they used was "analyo." "Analyo," job is done. Yoke is taken off. It is removed. It has departed from off the animal.

And this is the reason why Jesus said "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) Take my yoke upon you. You know what that means? Jesus is saying Let me rule you. Let me control you. Let me steer your life. I'll be in charge, not you. But then, there comes a day when the yoke is removed. And he says to us, well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord. And we get rewarded.

Paul further states that death for him is not only a departure but also an encounter. For he says, " My desire is to depart and be with Christ." Now this part is what makes death sweet for a Christian. It's not the departure that makes death sweet. It's the arrival that makes it sweet. It's the encounter we have with Christ.

Jesus too described Heaven to his disciples in a similar manner. He said, " And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." John 14:3.  It's the encounter that he was talking about.

And Paul when he has to choose says this is better. Warren Wiersbe explains this verse in the following manner “When he says, "which is far better," he actually stacks up words together. So the literal translation would be something like which is much more better. I want to depart and be with Christ, which is much more very better - which is bad English, but good Greek, and great theology.”

When D. L. Moody died he had his family around him on his deathbed. Moody said, "I am not discouraged. I want to live as long as I am useful. But when my work is done, I want to be up and off." Most of us feel that way, right? I want to do what God wants me to do. But when I'm done, take me to Heaven. That night, he had a horrible sleep, very restless. Early the next morning, he said in a very deliberate, slow cadence these words. He said, "Earth recedes; Heaven opens before me." His son Will thought his dad was having a dream, so he pushed him to wake him up. And Moody said, "no, this is no dream, Will. It is beautiful. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go."

Dear Friends this is the same reason why Paul is saying, for me to depart means I'm going to be with Christ, which is far better. It's going to be a departure. It's going to be an encounter. It's going to be far better. Are we ready for the departure and the encounter?

May the good Lord help us.

God Bless you.