To Live or To Die?

Today's QT: Phil. 1:19-30
19. for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
20. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24. but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
26. so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
27. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
28. without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God.
29. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
30. since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

To live is Christ. Although that sounds like a good thing, if you think about it, it's actually a really hard thing. Almost everything we are called to do as Christians, and for Christ, goes against our natural selves. It requires sacrificing our time, our pride, our money. PT (among other pastors, theologians, etc.) has talked about why we, as Christians, don't just go to heaven after being "saved". If being a Christian was just about being with Jesus in heaven then sure, might as well just die now (Hopefully we all have the confidence in our salvation for this extreme case). Paul, who would have the most confidence of any believer, struggles with this question. And as the reflection part of today's QT indicates, for Paul, who endured physical hardship and suffering most of his life, death would have been better: no more traveling to hostile foreign lands, no more prison, no more whippings and torture. He would have been able to enjoy an obviously awesome existence in heaven. However, Paul seems to almost know that he would live out a long-ish life. He would not endure/enjoy the fate of the young martyr. He knows his duty as a Christian is to "continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." Our duties as Christians here on earth, our purpose here on earth, is to bring the joy of Christ to others. Even if it means struggle and hardship, so that on the day each of us are called "home", individually or collectively, we bring as many of our friends as possible. I hope we're up for the challenge...

Next up: Roumeeeeeeee