For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain

This blog came out a bit late because of a trip to Ottawa this weekend to attend a memorial service of someone I never met. David Drysdale Stewart was the father of my wife's good friend from university. The service was very moving. This 83 year old Christian man had lived a very good life. This is an extract of what was written about him:
"David lived a life of discovery, exploring the character of God and the beauty of His creation. He practiced hospitality and concern for the poor and needy. David's life's work was delivered in the lecture theater, pulpit, public debate and written word. His hallmark was to deliver the truth with quality, humor, economy of words and carefully constructed purpose. He has left his mark on countless students, colleagues, friends, and especially his children."

I was particularly touched by the last hymn "Love divine, all loves excelling" by Charles Wesley. The last stanza drew tears to my eyes:
"Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise."

Lost in wonder, love, and praise! It is indeed the chief end of any man (Westminster Shorter Catechism)!

The minister Grant Wilson gave a brief sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:51-57. The key verse was:
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
 How befitting was this message that even though the man died but his life still lives on (John 11:25)! His life was a life of victory! The victory was more than all the degrees and accomplishments he had, and trophies from winning all the athletic tournaments. His most significant victory was victory over death and sin!
“Where, O death, is your victory?
  Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)
Jesus had risen from the dead. Through Him we too shall rise from the dead. Our sins have been taken away by His sacrificial death on the cross! How can we not praise Him!

It is not a coincident that this is my scripture reading for today:
"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. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 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! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 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, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me." (Philippians 1:20-26)

I felt like this weekend had been a feast of warm and encouraging fellowship, not only with brothers and sisters in Christ, but with the Lord Himself! I pray that my life will always reflect the victory that I have in Christ, that death and sin no longer cast fear and hopelessness but the opposite!