"You were made for Jesus and the satisfaction of your soul will be found in him"

You were made for Jesus. What a statement?! You weren't made for fame, you weren't made for fortune, you weren't made for temporary pleasures that all add up to a lump of mud. You were made for infinite joy in the infinite one (Jesus) who paid an infinite price (death of the Son of God) to purchase you for himself. In a world where we feel so insignificant, how awesome is it that we were created for greatness, or better put we were created to enjoy greatness - God Himself.

That reality drove Paul. He was so consumed with the glory of God that he would face beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, mockery, and even death if only Jesus would be made known and made much of. Even more than that he had tasted the goodness of God to the extent that if given a choice to live or die, he didn't know what he would choose. Living is great, but to be with Jesus that is infinite gain.

Philippians 1:20-21 "as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

So what about death? Our culture doesn't like to talk about it, we don't like to be reminded about it, in fact many churches decide NOT to have a graveyard next to the church because it is a "downer." Especially at our ages we think we are invincible, but WE AREN'T. As I am getting older I am seeing more and more how fragile life is. How do you want to die? I don't mean the means (like heart attack) I mean the manner. How can you die to make Jesus look magnificent as He is? Let me tell you an example: Stonewall Jackson was struck by friendly fire and was wounded severely. He was tossed around and even dropped on the long, bumpy road to "recovery". As he rested things seemed to be getting better, but then he took a turn for the worse, the doctors had amputated his arm and would soon find out he had pneumonia that was so severe there would be no recovery. Stonewall's wife, Anna, was given the task of telling her husband that he would soon be in Heaven. She said, "Do you not feel willing to submit to God's plan, if He will you go today?" With great difficulty he replied, "I prefer it." Anna told him that "Before this day closes,you will be with the Blessed Savior in his glory." Jackson said, "I will be an infinite gainer to be translated."

That is how I want to die. If it be His will I die that day, it is my desire. And when the family, friends, and medical staff are surrounded my bad I pray there are not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy for I shall be an infinite gainer in Jesus Christ!

Questions/Application:

1. Define Christian Hedonism: A life _______ __ ___.

2. If you were to have a day, a week, a month to live how could you show that to die is gain? How can you show family, friends and any one else that being with Jesus is far greater. How do you comfort your mom as she holds you hand in the hospital?

3. I know its hard to think about these painful subjects, we often would rather not think about them. But it is good that we do. Will death be to you infinite gain, or are you not sure? How can you be sure? Do you know for certain (100%) that if you died in a car wreck tonight, you would be with Jesus? Come to Jesus! If you have come, Go for Jesus! Go, tell, proclaim day to day the infinite worth of Christ, that He reigns and that He saves! Tell those that have no hope the Good News of Jesus Christ!