Philippians 1:21-26

1. Read Philippians 1:21–26. Think deeply about Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21. What does this verse mean, and why is it such a radical claim? Think about people in your life who have not experienced the saving grace of Jesus—those who have hope in this life only (1 Corinthians 15:19). What are some things you see them living for and hanging their hopes on?

2. We lose everything we don’t need. When a Christian passes into death, they leave behind everything that was broken, fleeting, and sinful. No more aches and pains of aging. No more distress of disease and decay. No more gnawing temptations. No more tears, no more grief, no more sin. Everything that kept us from seeing and savoring Jesus fully is stripped away, and we are finally free to worship Him with unveiled faces and undivided hearts (Romans 8:21; Revelation 21:4). What are some of the things present in your life right now that will be gloriously left behind in death? In other words, what are some of the things you don’t need that you will graciously lose when you die?

3. We keep everything that matters. Death does not steal what is most precious; it secures it. Our faith, tested through fire, remains. Our love for Christ and one another, imperfect now, will shine with purity then. The race we ran here on earth will not be forgotten, and the reward God has promised will be placed in our hands. No good thing is lost. Every precious saint we love will be present, perfected, and gloriously alive. Every sacrifice for Christ, every act of love, every moment of obedience will be preserved, honored, rewarded. How can the idea that “no good thing is lost” reframe the way we view suffering, sacrifice, and obedience in this life?

4. We gain what we never had before. This world, with its best gifts, is only ever a whisper of what is to come. In death, we don’t just escape the curse—we enter into glory! We see Christ face to face. The joy we have tasted in fleeting moments here becomes an ocean we will never reach the bottom of. The pleasures of God’s presence are infinite, and they are ours forever! If the joy and love awaiting us in the life to come are deeper than anything we’ve ever known, what kind of priorities or goals might need to shift in your life right now?