Philippians 1:12-30

What Happens When We Die?

Which is it? Do we die and stay in our graves until the Resurrection of the dead or do we go straight to be with the Lord? There are verses that indicate both possibilities. Paul says here, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” That sounds like we go straight to the presence of the Lord. Ah, but we also read in Paul’s writings that the dead in christ will rise at the trumpet call of God. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) 

How about this for an answer: both? Once we move into eternity and into other dimensions there is no reason for us to expect that time moves or functions the same way we are used to here. Could we not go immediately to be with the Lord in eternity and yet “still” be present at the trumpet call here? Of course all of this is speculation, so let’s move on to what isn’t just speculation.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Regardless of the time frames for the believer to live should be Christ and to die is certainly gain. 

This puts me in mind of my dad. He died in July of 2008 at the age of 92. He had essentially lived all of his life for the Lord and was a minister of the gospel for over 50 years. After my mom passed away in November of 2004 my dad lived on his own until about three months before his passing. I would see him everyday and occasionally we would talk about another living arrangement but he was quite independent and not willing to give up his house and move. 

He was in reasonably good health but fell and broke his hip in late March of 2008. He spent the last three months in the hospital and in a nursing facility recuperating. He actually enjoyed those last three months because he enjoyed being around so many people. He felt like he had a mission field again. On the day he died I left the nursing home and prayed, “Lord, if you want my dad to live to a hundred I’m totally fine with that but if you are ready for him I think he’d like to go now.” When the phone rang at 3 AM the next morning I knew before I answered what had happened. 

They had not been able to wake him at the nursing home and had sent him on to the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital the doctors were concerned about how I would react. It was OK. It was fine. I miss my dad but this was what he lived for. Because for him to live was Christ so indeed to die was gain. 

Maybe I’ll live to be 92? Even if I do the separation won’t be a long one. And whether I go straight to the Lord or are still here at the trumpet, or both, is really irrelevant. What matters is for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.