Philippians 1:18b-26 (NIV)
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 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; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Paul was in what many would consider a hopeless situation, one that was completely out of his control He was chained to guards day and night, falsely accused by his own countrymen of things deserving the death penalty under Jewish law, and his ultimate fate would be decided by a pagan, power-hungry despot who had no respect for the God that Paul served. It would be very easy for someone in Paul’s shoes to be frightened, discouraged and completely frustrated.
But Paul was none of those things. He knew that the emperor was not going to be the one to decide his case; God was. He knew that, like Pilate in the days of Jesus, Nero had no authority other than what God had given him or allowed him to have (John 19:10-11). He also had assurance from the Holy Spirit that this whole situation would end with his being vindicated by the emperor, a verdict that could not be appealed by his accusers back in Jerusalem. So, he wasn’t worried at all.
In reality, Paul realized that there were only two possible outcomes of his situation anyway: death or life. Paul was not being maudlin or depressed. He was a realist. But the fact was, he was going to be fine whichever outcome came. If he died, he would instantly be with the Lord forever where no enemy would ever be able to touch him again. That was not a bad outcome! The other possibility was that he would live and have more time for fruitful work in the kingdom of God.
Paul was perfectly fine with either outcome but was convinced that it was God’s will for him to be vindicated and released, and to continue his travels for the gospel, possibly heading west to Spain (Romans 15:23-24). This outcome would not only enable the reach of the gospel to continue to grow, it would also result in more praise and glory being given to God from all those who had seen their prayers for Paul powerfully answered.
Father, Paul was absolutely right. In every situation, there are only two possible outcomes for the Christian. I will not survive, which means that I will instantly be with the Lord forever. Or I will survive, which means more opportunities to do the work of Your kingdom here in the world. In most cases, those are both overwhelmingly positive outcomes. Help me, Lord, to always keep this in mind, no matter what obstacles, challenges, or dangers I face. Amen.