“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 ESV)

This is one of the most well known verses in all of scripture among Christians.  It is used to motivate people to live godly lives and accomplish great feats for the kingdom of God.  But the real question is how in the world is Paul able to say this when he has suffered so greatly for the cause of Christ.  He pens these words to the Philippians while in a Roman prison.  His logic is death would be better than life because he would get to be with Christ, while life means that he would get to continue for their progress and joy in the faith (v25).  Who talks like this?  Who says, “I’d rather die than live?”  He sees something that we don’t see and knows something that we don’t know.  It is easy to discount this as just Paul, after all he was an apostle and wrote over ½ of the New Testament.  But the same Power that was at work in Paul, is at work within us.  We are visually impaired, Paul was not – he saw things clearly.  “Oh Lord, enlighten the eyes of our hearts to see your beauty and to believe that knowing & loving You causes all things in this world pale in comparison.  Lord, make You our Greatest Treasure.”