The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me.”

—Philippians 1:21–22

Sometimes we grow weary of this world and its cares; the evil, brokenness, and pain feel like too much.

As believers, to die is gain. That’s true. It’s good to long for eternity with our Lord.

But that longing is not to keep us from fully living the life God has ordained for us to live. If our weariness has us retreating and looking inward in fear, anger, bitterness, sadness, or insecurity rather than being about the Father’s business, we’re missing the abundant life he has for us and neglecting our duty to love him and others well.

When we live out our lives here in joy and peace despite all the troubles—when we are afflicted but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed—the power of God flows through us by the laying down of our lives and submission to the Holy Spirit. The love of Christ will spread to more and more people, and thanksgiving will overflow (2 Corinthians 4:7–15).

There is no servant of Christ walking this earth without good purpose. The feeblest bodies may pray the most effective prayers, and the emptiest pockets may give the most in love. If we live on in this flesh, faithfully walking with him, it will mean fruitful labor that results in eternal joy, not only for us, but for those to whom we shine the light of the Gospel and demonstrate the hope of eternity. 

To live is Christ.

Let that be our highest goal.

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