Philippians 1:23. I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
It is a happy thing to live, to breathe the fresh air of heaven, to move from place to place, to see and hear. But the Bible says that to be in Christ is better than life. “In Thy favour is life, and Thy loving-kindness is better than life.” To be converted by the Spirit of God, to be convinced of sin and of righteousness, to be led to a hearty, saving acceptance of Christ, as my all-sufficient Saviour, is better than life. Indeed, I am quite sure that those of you who have been thus converted are feeling at this moment that this life of the soul is better and more pleasant than even natural life – that the light of God’s countenance is far sweeter than the light of the sun, that the saving health of His countenance gives more joy than the joyous current of health and life that bounds through youthful veins. Yes, brethren, you never knew what life was till you could say, “Christ liveth in me”. But the words before me point us to greater things than these. To live is good and happy. To be in Christ is better than life. But to be with Christ is far better than all.
The words of my text are much more expressive in the original than they are in our English translation. Indeed, they are so full of meaning that it is impossible to translate them perfectly. The word here rendered, I am in a strait, is the same as Christ uses when he says, “I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how am I straiteened till it be accomplished”. It implies great anxiety of mind: not a sudden overwhelming anxiety, but an abiding anxiety ever pressing on the mind. The word rendered desire is the same which Christ uses when He says, “With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you”, and indicates an intense desire of the mind. The word rendered to depart signifies to be unloosed, like a vessel set loose from its moorings. The words rendered far better would, if translated literally, be by much more better. To depart to be with Christ appeared so excellent to Paul that he heaped up more words than our language can hold in order to express it: I am continually in a strait betwixt two, having an earnest desire to depart – to be unmoored from the shores of this world – and to be with Christ, which is much better, aye, far better.
The doctrine taught by the passage is: To be with Christ is far better than to be in Christ.
To be with Christ is far better than to be in Christ, because then we shall never have any doubts about our salvation.
When God brings a man out of the horrible pit and miry clay, and sets his feet upon a rock, he is safe for eternity. When a sinner, under a sense of the awfulness of his natural condition, closes with Christ as the Saviour of lost sinners, he becomes a member of Christ’s body; he is therefore as sure to be saved as if he was already sitting on the throne with Christ. When the sinner feels that his feet are on a rock and has a sense of being accepted in the Beloved, this sense of safety is what is called the rest or peace of believing. It is a calm feeling poured over the anxious breast, a sense that God’s anger is all turned away, a feeling that all past sins are cast behind God’s back – buried in the depths of the sea. Though the believer’s safety never changes, yet his sense of safety very much changes. When he is once founded on Christ, the only foundation stone, he never can be shaken off; but he may often lose all sense of being safe. When once a member of Christ’s body, he can never be torn off, yet he may, for a time and through sin, lose all feeling of being a member. He may become so cold that he altogether doubts whether he is, or ever was, a saved person. As long as we are in this world, there are many things to obscure the peace of believing.
When the believer falls into some open sin, by so doing he brings guilt on his conscience. He begins to hear the condemning voice of the law. A cloud seems to intercept his view of the Saviour. If he falls into sin he should fall from all sense of safety; it would be a calamity to feel safe while in a back-sliding condition.
Suppose he is betrayed into worldly company and there hears nothing but worldly conversation. All around him are thinking what they shall eat and what they shall drink. The name of the Saviour is not once mentioned. To introduce it would be like bringing in a poisonous serpent, from which everyone would shrink back with horror. The believer sits silent and is half ashamed of Christ. He is ashamed to show he is a Christian. And when he comes home at night, is it a wonder if prayer and the Word are distasteful to him and he has lost all sense of safety?
Suppose the believer wearies in well-doing and thus also loses his sense of safety. Once he put his hand to the plough in every good work, but now he draws it back. He grows weary of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison. The work has turned burdensome; he has wearied of it. The poor have been ungrateful, or his time is too much occupied; on some such pretence, Christ’s service is neglected, and darkness is the consequence. He begins to doubt his safety, and well he may.
The approach of death often clouds the view of Christ. Pain is often dreadful; the mind is often taken up with it; so the eye is lifted away from Christ and the dark valley becomes very dark. Clouds and darkness rest upon it. Often the believer who rejoiced all his life has a long night of darkness on his deathbed – much doubt and perplexity. And though the everlasting arms are underneath him, yet he has no full sense of his safety.
But to depart and be with Christ is to be freed from all these doubts and all obscuring of the Sun of righteousness; therefore it is far better. When the soul of the believer has left its body, it finds itself in the arms of the angels. These angels rejoiced when he was born again into the world of grace; now they rejoice when he is born a third time, into the world of glory, for at death the souls of believers do immediately pass into glory. No sooner do they leave the body than they are with Christ, where they are not only safe – for they are no safer than they were – but their sense of safety is now complete. It shall never be clouded any more. Not another doubt shall ever darken their joy, nor another fear disturb their perfect peace.
No more shall that soul fall into sin and lose his sense of pardon and acceptance. No more shall he mix with worldly company, for nothing that defiles can enter heaven. The name of the Saviour shall gladden every feast of love and joy. The praise of the Saviour shall be the only melody; no more shall worldly friends and worldly talk darken his sense of acceptance. No more shall he weary in well-doing, for those before the throne serve God day and night in His temple. No more shall sloth creep over the soul; no more shall vain excuses prevent deeds of love. No more shall unchristian coldness take away the sense of safety. No more shall God take away the light of His countenance. He shall be with Christ, admitted to closest fellowship, always in sight of the Lamb that was slain, “for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and lead them unto living fountains of waters”.
Often the believer wept on earth because Christ had withdrawn from him, but now God shall wipe all tears from his eyes. No more shall the pangs of a dissolving body take up his thoughts; no more shall clouds obscure the face of the Saviour. He is with Christ, and his sense of safety is complete. He sees the hell from which he is delivered. He feels the heaven into which he is brought, and he is filled with an unvarying sense of safety. Like some spent swimmer to whom a rope is thrown, he is safe as soon as he has tied it around him. He may have a lively sense of safety even in the waves, but his sense of safety is only complete when he is brought ashore safely and looks on the sea from which he has been saved. Just so when a poor sinner, spent with vain struggles to save himself, at length submits to be saved by Christ, he is safe for eternity. He may have a real sense of safety even amid the billows of this world’s trials, but it is only when he is brought ashore, to be with Christ, and looks on the hell from which he has been saved that his sense of safety is complete. It shall never be darkened any more.
Believer, the joys of faith are sweet beyond expression! “Though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” But what shall the joys of sight be, when we are with Christ and shall see Him as He is, when we feel we have reached the shore, when we see the King in His beauty, and we are put in possession of the land that is very far off? It is far better to be with Christ! Why then cling to the world as if it were your all? Why tie yourselves to riches, houses and friends? Even in the brightest sunshine of this world, when friends are dearest and all things go most smoothly, if you are taught of God you will say, To be with Christ is far better. The more doubts you have, feeble believer, so much the more let thoughts of departing be pleasant unto you, for there are no doubts yonder.
It is far better to be with Christ, for then we shall be like Him in holiness.
When a sinner flees to Christ, he has been born again by the Holy Ghost; a new life has begun in his soul which shall never end. A spark has been lighted that shall never be quenched. The seed is sown and there shall yet “be a harvest. The Spirit has come to his soul and will never wholly leave it. He who “hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. But as long as the believer is in this world, there are many things to retard the progress of this life of holiness.
There is a body of sin and death. The believer is quite different from the world. He hates all sin, strives against all sin, prays against all sin; yet he has a body of sin and death. Sin does not reign in him as a king; yet it dwells in him as a hated guest. This is what most keeps back the life of holiness. The world is full of temptation suited to his natural heart. He cannot go into any company but he will meet with something drawing him to sin. The believer may have wicked acquaintances, who side with the evil part of his nature and try to draw him into complying with the world. Besides, his old habits return upon him again and again. Before he was a believer he followed in some path of sensuality, covetousness or passion, and now he will at times experience almost irresistible impulses to go back to his old courses.
Above all, Satan, the accuser of the brethren, tries to beguile him from the simplicity that is in Christ. He knows that there is but one way in which a believer can walk holily – by abiding in Christ. Then Christ will abide in him, and he will bear much fruit. Therefore, Satan directs all his energies against this. In this way, most of all, Satan tries to keep down the life of holiness. But when we depart and are with Christ, all these hindrances shall drop off; therefore it is far better to depart.
The believer at death is made perfect in holiness. Nothing that defiles can enter paradise, nothing that loves a lie. The body of sin and death has been laid in the grave. No more does the believer cry out, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me?” The world is left behind, with its busy hum, its fascinating company and pleasures of sin. The dead ear cannot hear its siren melody; the glazed eye cannot see its vain show; and the spirit is safe with Christ. Wicked companions are all left behind; their jests are heard no more. No more does friendship tempt to sin. There are no wicked companions with Christ. Old habits are put off for ever. No fear now of returning to old ways of sin. His heart is now perfect in holiness. He is led by the Lamb to living fountains of water. And Satan, his great enemy, the prince of the power of the air, cannot reach him now. But to be with Christ is to be above the air, in paradise. Satan cannot enter this paradise. “There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination.”
Not only shall the soul be freed from all that would draw it to sin, but everything there shall incite to holiness. In this world, almost everything we see or hear or handle may lead the soul to sin. In that world everything leads the soul to holiness. We shall see Christ. We shall see God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” But how can we see His loveliness without loving Him? How can we love Him without serving Him? If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. Professed believer in Christ, do you love holiness? If not, you are no believer. Do you long after holiness and pray for it? Do you groan under sin, wearied to be rid of it? To be with Christ is to be rid of it for ever. How plain then that it is better to depart and to be with Christ!
Why then will any of you cling to this world, as if it were your all? Why will you labour to be rich and pierce yourselves through with many sorrows? And why are you so afraid of death? Why do you shudder at the very word? It is a dark avenue, but it opens into the world of holiness and never-ending life. To depart and be with Christ is far better.
It is better to be with Christ, for there will be no more tribulation.
When a sinner flees to Christ, he is pardoned, justified, has peace and rejoices in God his Saviour. He is also enabled to glory in tribulations. The God of providence is his Father; so he will not fear what man can do unto him. He has the ordinary troubles of other men: pains, losses and bereavements; but he feels that a Father’s hand administers every cup of suffering. He has troubles which other men do not – persecutions and hatred from the world – yet he has joy here too, for he knows that God is able to shut the lions’ mouths. Still this world is a world of sorrow to the believer. This fact cannot be concealed. The Bridegroom is not here. But to be with Christ is to be free from all tribulation and therefore far better.
When Christ ascended to His Father, He bade farewell to sin and sorrow for ever. No more will He bear the pains of hunger in the wilderness; no more will He sit down wearied by the well of Sychar; no more will He sleep for weariness in a boat; no more will He bear the pain of false friends; no more will He bear the kiss of the betrayer; no more will He feel the pains of His pierced hands and feet; no more will He feel the shame of the cross; no more will He say, My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels; no more will He bow His head in dying agony. All His pains are past; His is now a glorious body. His raiment is white as the light, and His face is as the sun shining in its strength.
If you are members of Christ’s body, you too shall be free from tribulation, sin and suffering when you die. You shall bid farewell to sin and sorrow for ever. Now you may be often hungry and thirsty, often faint and weary toiling in the sun. But then you shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on you nor any heat. In this world you may have much tribulation, but at death you shall come out of it and serve Him day and night in His temple. Here the world may scorn you and point the finger, but with Christ you shall be free from it all. Is it not far better to depart and be with Him?
It is better to be with Christ, for then we shall praise God more heartily.
When a sinner is first brought to cleave to Christ, he praises God heartily for the first time. Unconverted men may join in singing “psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs,” but they never praise God from the heart. Often the first words of a sinner brought to Christ are praise. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”
Nothing gives more joy to a true believer than to praise God. The singing of psalms of praise has always abounded most in the best times of the Church. Hence it may clearly be seen how small the company of believers is in our day, when there is so little singing of psalms in families and so few join heartily in the praise in church. But the believer cannot always praise in this world. He is often afflicted, and even if he is merry and sings psalms, yet how cold are his praises compared with what might be expected! How little proportioned to the glory of Him whom we praise! How seldom does the believing heart glow with a flame of praise! But when we are with Christ, we shall always praise Him in the highest degree; therefore it is far better to be with Christ.
We shall always praise because we shall always have a vivid sense of what we are saved from.
On earth we have poor conceptions of God’s wrath, and these only at times; so we are not very thankful for being brought to Christ. But in heaven we shall see the wrath of God poured out upon the Christless; we shall see their dismal faces; we shall hear their sad cries and the gnashing of their teeth; we shall see the smoke of their torment ascending up before God for ever. How believers shall praise God for His electing love that chose them to salvation! How they shall praise Christ for His redeeming love, for enduring such pains instead of them! There shall be no end to that praise, and it will be rendered with all their heart.
In heaven the saints shall always have a sense of what we are saved to.
On earth we have low conceptions of the blessedness of God’s favour, friendship and love; therefore we are not very thankful. But then we shall feel more fully the warmth of His love; we shall drink the rivers of His pleasures; our joy shall be full; we shall be like vessels filled to overflowing. In His presence there is fulness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore. We shall feel that we were redeemed to enjoy all this. How we shall then praise Christ for His obedience in our place, and God the Father for His love in sending His Son to be our Substitute and Surety!
We shall have a constant sight of God’s beauty and glory.
On earth we conceive of the infinite loveliness of God in a very poor way. Only now and then does a believer enter so fully through the rent veil as to see His beauty and inquire in His temple; but then we shall be like pillars in the temple of our God and go no more out. Only in the works of creation and providence, and sometimes in the Word or in the broken bread, can we see God. It is, at best, as in a glass darkly; but then face to face. We shall know even as we are known. No more in a glass, but in reality, shall we see God and eternally gaze on His uncreated loveliness. What praises this shall draw from our hearts to all eternity! “This God is our God for ever and ever.” Is it not then better to be with Christ, so that we may love and praise God more?
Even on earth, much of the believer’s happiness consists in praise. The happiest Christians are always most engaged in praise. The more heavenly-minded you grow, the more you will abound in praise. The work of heaven is often described as praise. Every description of heaven in the Book of Revelation contains much praise. The true happiness of a creature consists in giving praise to the God who made him. How much better to depart and be with Christ! It is far, far better.
This should reconcile us to the death of believing friends.
They are now with Christ, and that is far better. And shall we grudge them their happiness? When friends are removed to a distance in this world; when they go to India, or when they make money or settle well in the world, we do not grudge them their happiness. And why would you grudge believing friends to be with Christ, which is far better than thousands of gold and of silver?
This should reconcile us to die.
If indeed we are believers, to die is to be with Christ, which is far better. Do you reject the testimony that it is better to be with Christ than to be here? Then you are no believer.
You say, I am a feeble believer. Then it is most of all blessed for you to be with Christ. The feeblest swimmer is the one that should long most for the shore. The ship that is most shattered in a tempest should long most for the harbour; so you, if you are a feeble believer you should, more than others, see it desirable to be with Christ. If you have many doubts and fears, if there is much opposition to your holiness, if you cannot bear the world’s scorn, if you have but seldom a full heart of praise – then you, most of all, should long to be with Christ, for to you, more than to others, it is far better than to be here.
How sad to be Christless!
This whole day I have spoken to God’s children. Do not think that I have been speaking to you, poor Christless souls! It is not better for you to depart; it would be far worse for you. This world is your only heaven. Beyond it is hell. May God write this truth upon your hearts: If you are not Christ’s in time, you will never be with Christ in eternity.
1Another sermon taken, with editing, from Revival Truth.