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What Does The Christian Gain When They Die?

When we speak of funerals we ususally don't think of gaining anything do we?  The word gain is usually not in our funeral vocabulary.  Most of the time we speak of our loss - and that is what we concentrate on.  People tell us how sorry they are for our loss.  In fact when a person dies we say that they lost their life.  We have a flood of emotions - sadness - grief - some times anger and regret.  We have those emotions because we have lost something.  We have lost fellowship with a brother aned it hurts.  There is gain when we lose a loved one.  But did you know there is one verse in the Bible that uses the word "gain" when it speaks of death?

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. " Phillippians 1:21

When I read this verse, I had to look up the word "gain" in the dictionary and find out the meaning of it.  Do you kinow what I found?  Gain means something is acquired - something is taken possession of - gain means to increase - to get an advantage.  It's quite different than the way we normally look at death - isn't it?

We do talk about gaining a little though don't we?  I always hear family members say that he is in a better place.  That is a statement of gain.  If a person has the right relationship with Jesus when they die, they gain several blessings.  You see - Paul is writing as a Christian whe he says, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  Jesus has promised a  multitude of blessings to those who believe in Him when they die.  No - not money of fame or fortune - but blessings unimaginable.  Let me tell of at least four blessings that the Christian gains when they die.

Blessing #1: We Gain AN INCREDIBILE LIFE

In this present body we are subject to the joys and disappointments of life.  We are subject to the growing process of life as well as the aging process.  Sometimes we are healthy and sometimes we get sick.  Sometimes we feel pleasure, sometimes we feel pain.  Sometimes we are happy; sometimes there is sorrow.  When we get to heaven it will not be that way.

"And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death; neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."  Revelation 21:4

Blessing #2: We Gain AN ETERNAL LIFE

All of us live in a world where family relationships change.  Mother is gone or Father is gone.  Uncles and Aunts - Grandparents - they all grow older and die.  But that does not happen in Heaven.  There is no aging process. There is no death.  We live forever.  Most of us know John 3:16 - but how often  do we really trust in the last phrase of that verse?

"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotton Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish; but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

Blessing #3 We Gain A GLORIOUS HOME

No matter how beautiful or elaborate your home may be in this world, it is nothing compared with the home God has prepared for us. 

"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and p repare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  John 14:1-3

Blessing #4 We Gain PERFECTION

How can I say this? Because the Bible teaches taht we "Become like Christ" when we go to heaven with Him and see Him face to face.  What is Christ like?  He is perfect.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."  1 John 3:2

We shall see Him in all of his perfection.  We shall see Him in all of His glory.  We shall become like Him.

We all grieve for our lost loved ones, but we must also realize what he has gained.