Living for Christ: Reflections on Death, Faith, and Purpose

I was smiling as I chatted with my younger brother on Facebook yesterday. He presented a list of topics he wanted to talk about and asked me to pick the headlines one by one so he could share the details. I made my selections and, like a gracious waiter, he delivered the stories. Our conversation ranged from serious matters, such as our grandfather’s funeral arrangements, to lighter moments, like how he affectionately calls my little girl “Bebe Matango.”

Everything was going well until we reached the name of one of my older cousins. My brother prefaced the reply with, “This is the shocker, Pre.” Curious and a little amused, I typed “What?” and sent it. His response came back blunt and stark: “She is dead, Pre, dead.”

The words stunned me. For a moment I wished death meant something other than the simple fact that a person is no longer alive. My smile disappeared and was replaced by sorrow. I sat quietly, and my mind drifted through memories: her face, our last meeting, our conversations, her mannerisms and the things she valued. A rush of emotions made it hard to find words adequate to describe what I felt.

Questions flooded in almost immediately: Where is she now? Is she at peace? Has she found joy or sorrow in the life that follows this one? I remembered her speaking about her faith in God, and I prayed inwardly that she had held fast to that faith until her final breath.

Many of us experience this kind of shock when someone we love dies. It serves as a sharp reminder of our own mortality. Sooner or later it will be our turn. Whether we like it or not, we will all die one day — unless, of course, Christ returns while we are still alive.

For some, death is terrifying. For others who seek to live rightly, it can be understood differently. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” That line has echoed in my mind ever since, partly because my mother often hums a hymn based on those words.

I have spent time reflecting deeply on the phrase “to live is Christ.” It means letting Christ shape the center of your life — your priorities, decisions, relationships, and goals. It asks us to consider what or whom we truly serve. Are you living for your career, your reputation, your possessions, or for Christ? As Matthew 6:24 reminds us, you cannot serve both God and money.

Too many people invest their time and energy in pursuits that have no eternal value. They rise early and stay up late, consumed by anxiety and toil, chasing things that will not last. When the end comes, will those efforts prove meaningful? Will they reflect a life well-lived in the eyes of God, or will they leave one empty and wanting?

I urge everyone to aim for a Christ-centered life. Let Christ define your thoughts, govern your actions, and direct the words you speak. When Christ is at the center, the promise “to die is gain” takes on comforting meaning. Even though loved ones may grieve our passing, we can have confidence that we are entering into something far better.

I long for the day when I complete my earthly journey and walk into the light that never fades. I hope to stand before the Lord and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That hope sustains and motivates me now.

As Paul wrote elsewhere, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Let that be the measure of our days. Life is brief; use it well. Center your life on Christ, for that is the greatest and most enduring purpose.