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Is Christ my Constant Aim?

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

A young man once came to W.E. Gladstone when he was Prime Minister of England and said, "Mr. Gladstone, I would appreciate your giving me a few minutes in which I might lay before you my plans for the future. I would like to study law." "Yes," said the great statesman, "and what then?"
"Then, sir, I would like to gain entrance to the Bar of England." "Yes, young man, and what then?"
"Then, sire, I hope to have a place in Parliament, in the House of Lords." "Yes, young man, what then?" pressed Gladstone.
"Then I hope to do great things to Britain." "Yes, young man, and what then?"
"Then, sire, I hope to retire and take life easy." "Yes, young man, and what then?" he tenaciously asked.
"Well, then, Mr. Gladstone, I suppose I will die." "Yes, young man, and what then?" The young man hesitated and then said, "I never thought any further than that,sir."
Looking at the young man sternly and steadily, Gladstone said, "Young man, you are a fool. Go home and think life through!"

What are we living for? Our answer to that question will determine the direction of our life. If our purpose is wrong, our direction will be wrong. If our purpose is vague or fuzzy, our direction will be fuzzy. If we don't know our purpose, we'll just be swept along by the currents of our age, doing what seems to bring us happiness. It is crucial that we be clear and correct in answering the question, "What are we living for?"

As the story of the young man and Mr. Gladstone illustrates, the correct answer to that question must include some thought about the fact of death and what lies beyond. It must also include consideration of the uncertainty of life, so that whenever death may come, it doesn't thwart our purpose.

The Apostle Paul was clear and focused on his purpose. I believe that the purpose for which he lived is the only purpose that takes eternity into account, so that whether we live a long life or whether it is cut short, that purpose will be fulfilled. In short, Paul's purpose is, "For to me, to live is Christ."

Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out, that sentence is not only a statement of the apostle's true experience, but also it is a standard of judgment which confronts us with the most thorough test of our Christian faith we will ever encounter. Every person who professes Christ as Saviour must grapple with the question, "Can I honestly say, 'For me, to live is Christ'?" If I can say, "Yes," then I have also answered that fundamental question, "What about death and what lies beyond?" It will be gain for me.

Paul clearly was determined to "live Christ" as his sole aim. He expresses it elsewhere in slightly differing terms, but with the same idea: "I do all things for the sake of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:23) "whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (Phil. 3:7); "....one thing I do:...I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). Christ was Paul's constant aim.

As Christians, we need to honestly evaluate our lives in light of this aim. It's easy to fall into living for good things, but not for the best. God graciously blesses us with our families, friends, homes, possessions, work, leisure and enjoyments. But if we're not careful, these good things become the things for which we're living. Even those of us in vocational ministry can begin living for ministries. We need to keep asking ourselves, "What if this thing (person/activity) were taken from me?" Certainly, it would be difficult if, like Job, I lost my children, my health, and my possessions. But if I'm truly living for Christ, I will be able to come through any tragedy without despair, because He can't be taken from me. So I must constantly evaluate my life by asking, "Is Christ at the center? Is He my all in all?"

Dear Friends, where do we want  to get to? If we want to get to heaven, then we need to consider the question, "What am I living for?" Complete the sentence: "For me, to live is ________." What fills the blank? Money? Success? Happiness? Pleasure? Fun? Good times? Family? Self? If our answer is any of the above, then to die will be a terrible loss, not a gain. But if, with Paul, we can honestly say as we evaluate our life, "For me, to live is Christ," then we can also say with all the confidence, "to die is gain!"

God Bless you.
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Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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