I must admit that I am already tired of the politics and election drama. I have read the draft platform from one party (all 80 pages) and waiting to read the draft platform for the other one. I also must admit my soul is vexed by the rhetoric, it is sorrowed by the hatred spewed back and forth, and almost overwhelmed by the issues. The other day I stood in the kitchen and thought I understood, maybe for the first time, what Paul wrote in the beginning of his letter to the Philippians.
“For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” [Philippians 1:21-24 HCSB]
I know my life is Christ here now, and when I die I shall go to be with Him. That sounds so much better than staying where everything is such a mess in our world at present. Yet I also know, that as a pastor, I must complete my course; I must serve Christ now in the toughest times I have seen since I began.
I am not the only pastor who feels this way, many others are feeling the same. There are just times when pastoring is difficult and uncertain. We are not immune from discouragement, nor do we have all the wisdom and knowledge to confront every problem facing our country.
We do have “The Answer,” and that is Christ Jesus is Savior and LORD. How we communicate that answer to a dying world, how we encourage people to persevere, how we deal with overwhelming societal problems, that is the hard part.
So, a part of me yearns for that “dying is gain” that Paul wrote about – at the same time, I understand that at least for now, God is not yet ready for me. I must have some more fruitful work to complete. Ah, but deep within my soul is that desire to be with Him that yearns to be fulfilled.
Amen, LORD Jesus, come quickly. Amen.
