基督帶來的改變
腓立比書一章19至27節
19因為我知道，這事藉著你們的祈禱和耶穌基督之靈的幫助，終必叫我得救。
20照著我所切慕、所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。只要凡事放膽，無論是生是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。
21因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。
22但我在肉身活著，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道該挑選甚麼。
23我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。
24然而，我在肉身活著，為你們更是要緊的。
25我既然這樣深信，就知道仍要住在世間，且與你們眾人同住，使你們在所信的道上又長進又喜樂，
26叫你們在基督耶穌裡的歡樂，因我再到你們那裡去，就越發加增。
27只要你們行事為人與基督的福音相稱，叫我或來見你們，或不在你們那裡，可以聽見你們的景況，知道你們同有一個心志，站立得穩，為所信的福音齊心努力。
信息分享
對不認識耶穌基督的人而言，死亡就是人生的終局。他們不知道進入死亡之後的另一邊會是怎樣的。經常有人對我說：「噢，死亡之後會怎樣？我就賭賭自已的運氣了；此刻我不準備為它而操心。」
然而，基督徒卻對死亡有另一種看法。我們可以像保羅那樣說：「我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處」。對保羅來說，無論是在地上繼續活著，抑或死了上天堂，兩者都沒有分別，因為無論是生是死，基督都與他同在，而他也活在基督裡(21-23節)。
基督徒若死了，他的靈魂將立即進到天堂，永遠與基督同在。他留下的軀體，便會按照人的習俗埋葬。
然而，被埋的軀體也不是長埋土裡的。當耶穌基督再來的時候，將帶同升到天上的千萬靈魂一起降臨。當祂從天而降的時候，祂將會呼叫被埋的復活。每個得救的人，都會有一個復活了的身體。這整個過程，將會在迅雷不及掩耳的情況下發生--聖經說是「眨眼之間的事」。
這正是所有基督徒的盼望。你明白基督使我們作基督徒之後，對生死的看法有何不同嗎？這只是福音的部份信息，也是基督在我們相信祂時，給予我們的其中一份禮物。基督徒無須再懼怕死亡；死亡只是一條通道，引領我們去到基督的面前。
禱告：
求主助我為你而活，以致別人能看見你在我的裡面。
THE DIFFERENCE CHRIST MAKES
Philippians 1: 19 - 27
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Message
When men and women do not know Jesus Christ, death is the end of everything. They do not know what is on the other side of the doorway we call death. I have often had folk say to me, 'Well I'll just take my chance on whatever comes after I die. I'm not going to worry about it now.'
But the Christian looks at death differently. Like Paul we can say, 'To me to live is Christ and to die means just to have more of him'. It didn't really matter to Paul whether he lived here on earth or died and went to heaven. Christ was with him and in him in either place (v.21-23).
When a Christian dies, his soul goes immediately into heaven to be with Christ for ever. The body which is left we put into the ground because the person has finished with it.
But the body isn't going to stay in the ground for ever. When Jesus Christ comes back again, he will bring with him all those thousands of souls who have gone on to heaven. As he comes through the clouds he will call, and out of the ground a new resurrection body will rise for each of those saved souls. It will all happen so quickly that we will hardly be able to see it - the bible calls it 'in the twinkling of an eye'.
This is the hope of every Christian. Can you see the difference Christ makes as we, as Christians, look at death as well as at life? This is all part of the gospel and part of all that Christ gives to us when we accept him. A Christian need never fear death. IT is only a doorway that leads into the very presence of Christ.
A PRAYER:
Lord help me live today for Christ, so that others will know he lives in me.