牧者心聲
只能活一次
陳小宛牧師
2022 年 7 月 30 日 / 31 日
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「因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。但我在肉身活著，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道該挑選甚麼。我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。」（腓一 21-23）
這幾節經文，是在一位神學院同學的安息禮拜中誦讀出來的，她在 6 月中被主耶穌接去，這三節經文對我們這群神學院同學具有很特別的意義，因為在 20 多年前，已故的張子華牧師就在他的「講道學」課堂上分享過腓一 21-23，自那次之後，「因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處」便成了我們所有人一個很重要的提醒。
我多年前有一次哮喘發作，嚴重得我要向神說：「你不如現在就取去我的命吧！」之後我想起保羅的話：「因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。」我仔細咀嚼這話，彷彿聽見耶穌在問我：「如果你此刻就死掉來見我，那會是怎樣的情況呢？」於是我就明白，我仍未準備好見主面，因為我當刻有一種羞愧的感覺，我仍未忠心完成祂託付我的工作，在這情況下死掉，試問又怎會對自己、對其他人有益處？隨後我對神說：「主啊，不要理會我剛才的話，我想活下去！」我當下禱告，至今仍然這樣禱告：求主耶穌接我回天家的時候，叫我不致羞愧，而其他人也會為我的一生快樂感恩。
弟兄姊妹，假如我們存活的時候不能榮耀耶穌基督，我們的死又怎會比生存更好？惟獨我們在地上的生命能夠榮耀祂，我們的死才會帶來益處。所以，如果耶穌今天叫你回天家，你預備好了嗎？能跟祂面對面相見嗎？你能否說「我死了就有益處」呢？
英語群體牧養科上星期在真理樓舉行了少年日營，我們向參加者（還有我們自己）發出一個挑戰：立志活出以天國為首的生命。這一點為甚麼重要？原因是無論我們是誰，我們每個人都只能活一次，而我們不知道耶穌會在甚麼時候回來，或是甚麼時候叫我們回天家。
使徒保羅所切慕、所盼望的，是沒有一事叫他羞愧，在所做、所說的一切上都能榮耀基督（腓一 20）。其中的關鍵，就是將福音活出來，與人分享。能叫我們羞愧的，只有一件事，就是未能得到主耶穌的歡心，須知道，祂已經賜我們永生，應許與我們同在，供應我們一切所需，從而叫我們在一切不明朗和試練中，仍能活出以天國為首的生命。
願我們都單單仰望神，順服於祂至高的旨意！願我們靠著聖靈，分享福音，不論是生是死，都榮耀主耶穌！
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far." (Philippians 1:21-23)
These verses were read during the memorial service of a seminary friend who was received by the Lord Jesus in mid-June. And these verses are especially special to my group of seminary classmates as the late Rev. Fred Tze-Wah Cheung shared in the preaching class more than twenty years ago. Since then, "to live is Christ and to die is gain" has become a great reminder to us all.
Many years ago, I had an asthma attack and it got to the point that I said to God, "Why don't You take my life now?" Then I was reminded of Paul's words – "To live is Christ and to die is gain." I pondered and it was like Jesus asking me, "What will it be like if you die and see Me now?" I realized that I was not ready to see Jesus because I was ashamed. I had not been faithfully doing what He had given me, so how could my death be a gain for me and others? Then I said to God, "Lord, forget what I have just said. I want to live!" I prayed and am still praying that when the Lord Jesus receives me in the heavenly home, I will not be ashamed and people will celebrate my life joyfully.
Brothers and sisters, if we do not glorify Jesus Christ while we live, how can our dying be even better? It is only when we glorify Him in our earthly life then our death can be a gain. So, if Jesus is calling you to the heavenly home today, are you ready to see Him face to face? Can you say that "to die is gain"?
The English Ministry had a day camp for teenagers at the Truth Centre last week. We challenged the campers (and ourselves) to make a commitment to live a Kingdom-first life. Why is it important? Regardless of who we are, each one of us has only one life to live, and we do not know when Jesus returns or calls us home.
The Apostle Paul's expectation and hope is that he would not be ashamed for not glorifying Christ in everything he does and says (Philippians 1:20). It is about living out the gospel and sharing it with others. And the only thing that could put us to shame would be the failure to win the approval of our Lord Jesus, who has already given us eternal life, promised His presence, provided all we need to live a Kingdom-first life in the midst of uncertainties and trials.
May we put hope in God alone and dispose ourselves to His sovereign will! And may we rely on the Holy Spirit to share the gospel and to glorify our Lord Jesus by life and by death!
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