基督带来的改变
腓立比书一章19至27节
19因为我知道，这事借着你们的祈祷和耶稣基督之灵的帮助，终必叫我得救。
20照着我所切慕、所盼望的，没有一事叫我羞愧。只要凡事放胆，无论是生是死，总叫基督在我身上照常显大。
21因我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处。
22但我在肉身活着，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道该挑选甚么。
23我正在两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在，因为这是好得无比的。
24然而，我在肉身活着，为你们更是要紧的。
25我既然这样深信，就知道仍要住在世间，且与你们众人同住，使你们在所信的道上又长进又喜乐，
26叫你们在基督耶稣里的欢乐，因我再到你们那里去，就越发加增。
27只要你们行事为人与基督的福音相称，叫我或来见你们，或不在你们那里，可以听见你们的景况，知道你们同有一个心志，站立得稳，为所信的福音齐心努力。
信息分享
对不认识耶稣基督的人而言，死亡就是人生的终局。他们不知道进入死亡之后的另一边会是怎样的。经常有人对我说：「噢，死亡之后会怎样？我就赌赌自已的运气了；此刻我不准备为它而操心。」
然而，基督徒却对死亡有另一种看法。我们可以像保罗那样说：「我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处」。对保罗来说，无论是在地上继续活着，抑或死了上天堂，两者都没有分别，因为无论是生是死，基督都与他同在，而他也活在基督里(21-23节)。
基督徒若死了，他的灵魂将立即进到天堂，永远与基督同在。他留下的躯体，便会按照人的习俗埋葬。
然而，被埋的躯体也不是长埋土里的。当耶稣基督再来的时候，将带同升到天上的千万灵魂一起降临。当祂从天而降的时候，祂将会呼叫被埋的复活。每个得救的人，都会有一个复活了的身体。这整个过程，将会在迅雷不及掩耳的情况下发生--圣经说是「眨眼之间的事」。
这正是所有基督徒的盼望。你明白基督使我们作基督徒之后，对生死的看法有何不同吗？这只是福音的部份信息，也是基督在我们相信祂时，给予我们的其中一份礼物。基督徒无须再惧怕死亡；死亡只是一条通道，引领我们去到基督的面前。
祷告：
求主助我为你而活，以致别人能看见你在我的里面。
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.