TO LIVE IS CHRIST

 New Year’s Song

If this were to be my final night upon the earth,

I know I’d have confidence that I’ve received new birth.

I know that I would be with You, Lord, the moment that I died;

and yet to think that I could die tonight, my eyes fill up and cry...

Because there’s so much here to do…

I have some friends and family who still do not know You.

And even though I say with Paul for me to die is gain,

for then I’d be with Jesus Christ, and I would have no pain;

I must also say with Paul for me to live is Christ.

So if I’m given one more day please let me live my life

in praise to You, dear Lord,

telling others what You do through Your word

making sure that all my friends have heard

bearing witness to the world about Your love.

If this were to be Your final night upon the earth,

would you have the confidence that you’ve received new birth?

Do you know you’d go to heaven if you died tonight?

If not, I pray you’ll open up your heart to Jesus Christ...

Because there’s so much love right here.

You could have a brand new life to start a brand new year.

There are people here who’d love to show you how to start.

Just come to one of us if God is speaking to you heart.

Then we will show you in His word how you can know him too.

Believe me when I tell you it’s the best thing you can do

to give your life to Christ, to allow Him to come in

and change your life so that you can know for sure tonight

that you will see heaven’s light because of love.

If this were to be your final night upon the earth,

do you have the confidence that you’ve received new birth?

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

kĕrdŏs²⁷⁷¹ – of uncert. affin.; gain (pecuniary or gen.): - gain, lucre.

            My grandmother died of lung cancer in my bedroom in October of 1985. In December of the same year I was planning the New Year’s event for our singles group at church. With Grandma’s death so fresh in my mind, I was pondering life and death and purpose. What did it matter if I had another year or not since I knew I was ready to be with the Lord? After all, to die is gain. As I re-read the entire passage around this verse, I realized that Paul chose life in order to bring assurance of life to others. The Lord gave me the song above to share that thought with the singles on New Year’s Eve.

            Father, help me always to live with the purpose of “knowing Christ and making Him known” as Dawson Trotman so aptly put it. You have gone to prepare a place for me as you tell us in John 14, and it will be glorious gain to be with you. However, help me to trust you here and now to fill me and use me to bring others to your kingdom.