Title: To Live is Christ

Everybody dies, but what do they die for? One medical professional said a few days ago; The conquest of infectious disease has made possible a nation in which people go to bed at age 85 or 90, after doing a days work and enjoying their lives, and simply don't wake up. But when Americans, Canadians, or anyone dies; what do they for? What do they live for? I'm Charles Morris and welcome to Haven Today. Stay with me, I want to share with you in the next few minutes the joy we have when we live for Christ.

Song: Fullness of Joy

This is Haven Today and a program of joy called; To Live is Christ. A few days ago in Arkansas the director of the state Department of Health said he would like to see a nation in which people died because their hearts just get too old and worn out to keep beating. But then Dr. Fay Booseman said death due to chronic illness by contrast is slow and costly. The physician said that's the way many Americans choose to die when they choose how to live. A hundred years ago more people died from infectious diseases, today that's no longer true. The leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. There are three underlying causes that lead to the most fatal illnesses; tobacco, poor diet and lack of exercise. You may already know that and may not be doing anything about it. May I turn the topic slightly and more importantly ask; what are you living for and who are you living for? Frederick Nichi once said; he who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how. I don't agree with everything in fact I don’t agree with most things he said but I believe that. For instance the Apostle Paul in the scriptures you see a man with such a big vision of what his life was about. He was highly ambitious but not for himself but for the Kingdom of God. He was a person with big dreams but he sat bound in chains. Listen to what he said, what he wrote in Philippians chapter 1; “Now I want you to know that what's happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel as a result it's become clear throughout the whole palace guard and everyone else that I'm in chains for Christ. Because of my chains most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly. What a perspective, no complaining. He didn’t ask them to give to a fund for a lawyer to get them out. He didn’t organize a letter writing campaign to pressure the Roman Government for an early release; Paul was okay with being under arrest. Why was that? Because as a result of his imprisonment he saw a couple of good things happening first the praetorian guards who served in the Emperor's palace were the ones guarding him and to Paul this was a new opportunity for ministry. He could witness not only to those guards but through them to all those in Caesar's Palace. Second, his ability to handle being chained gave other believers the courage to share the Gospel more boldly and that encouraged him. In spite of being under house arrest Paul was joyful. God's work was going forward and to Paul that is what mattered the most. So what about you? I already asked myself what about me. Do hardships throw you for a loop? They don’t have too; the key is in looking for God's purposes and understanding that a wise and good God has worthy reasons for even negative experiences. In his economy nothing is wasted or senseless. All your circumstances have a valuable purpose. What ever the Lord is doing through your life, you and I can rejoice.

Song: Every Heart that is Breaking

He sees you, knows you, loves you and if you are in Jesus Christ he takes care of you. I was down south once and somebody told me the story that there are two kinds of people in the world I can't do the accent but they're those wake up in the morning and say good morning Lord and there are those who wake up in the morning and say good lord it's morning. I laughed at him and I’m laughing right now but those of us who serve the Living Savior aught to be the first kind. That's what the person sharing with me was meaning by that story, Paul certainly was. I read to you a bit ago from Philippians 1. Paul was able to live above his situation of being jailed because he saw that in all God's purposes were being fulfilled. In that same first chapter of Philippians 1, you see his view of his opponents. People actually took advantage of his imprisonment to try to take over his position in the church. This is what Paul had to say about them; “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, of selfish ambition not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I'm in chains. But what is at matter, the important thing is that in every way whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached and because of this I rejoice.” How unthreatened Paul was, he rejoiced that Christ was preached even at his own expense; what generosity. Well all of us have to decide what perspective we're going to take toward other people. We do have enemies but they are not in the body of Christ. No Christian is your enemy no matter what that person has done to you and no matter what their motives might have been. I know that's tough to receive, it can really be difficult to rejoice at efforts which weaken our own particular cause even when we know they may promote the cause of Christ. We sinners can get so territorial can't we, but take a look at the big picture choose to be generous. God has called us to rejoice and to love each other. This letter of Philippians is filled with some wonderful verses. Two stand out….one in particular Haven sings Philippians 4:13.

Song: I Can Do All Things

Well you knew the verse didn’t you, Philippians 4:13; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” There is another verse from Philippians as well and it's something that's classic. It’s what I'm calling this program today - it's in chapter 1 verse 21; “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” We’ve been looking at Paul's perspective on life we've been seeing that Paul could live above life down here, above negative circumstances and even above people who were threatening him. How did he handle it? Well because he was living in Christ and for Christ, he thought that to die was gain. Paul took the perspective that his life was all about Jesus what was good for Christ was good for him. So considerations like his freedom or his comfort or happiness didn't matter - Paul's life was all tied up with Jesus and that freed him to know that no matter what all was well. There's another classic verse I'm thinking of and it’s in Matthew 6:33 the words of Jesus; “Seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.” Jesus was saying to all of us that belong to him you just seek to make God king in your life and in the lives of others and he'll work out everything else.

Song: Change My Heart

As I listen to that song it made me want to pray as well Lord change my heart. I want my life to be all about you. I want the Holy Spirit to empower me to live that out because if you're in Jesus Christ there really is no other way to live. Somebody was reminding me just the other day that in 1994 in Los Angeles there was a very devastating earthquake; the Northridge quake. Over 60 people died. Thousands were injured and thousands were left homeless. In this kind of happening reminded everyone who lived in the second largest populated area the United States, how short life is and how tenuous our hold on things like homes, cars and businesses can be. We have to ask ourselves what really matters to me, if I lost my home how would I respond and what is my life really all about? Well Paul would say; “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He went through all the acts of living just like we do; he'd dressed, he ate, he related to people, he made and spent money, he lived a human life. Paul knew that real life was not about those things, real life was about going through each day with the Lord loving him and being loved by him. In Philippines 3:12 it says; “Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Song: Higher Ground

The song of course is Higher Ground and I pray that you like me are pressing on as we follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Live is Christ, that's the name of this Haven Today as we start living a new week for him. Over the last weeks we've been talking a lot about a new upcoming movie the Da Vinci Code and the just translated The Gospel of Judas. If you missed our programs last week with the New Testament in Gnostic Gospels expert but I want to suggest you visit Haventoday.org. Look up “the going deeper” section at the right-hand side and you'll find two programs with Dr. Clinton Arnold, I think they should be of great interest to you. You can also sign up for Podcasting so if you missed the program on your local station you can still download automatically to your computer or iPod. When you get in touch please let us know the station where you are listing. At Haventoday.org you'll find “Discussing the Da Vinci Code” kit by Lee Strobel and that includes a DVD film at Da Vinci Code locations in France and England and a leaders discussion guide - also you will find a book by Lee Strobel “Exploring the Da Vinci Code.” If it is more convenient you can call us at 1-800-65-HAVEN, that’s 1-800-654-2836. I’m Charles Morris where we invite you to come back again tomorrow when again we will share; The Great Story - It’s All About Jesus here on Haven Today.