PAUL’S STRAIT BETWIXT TWO!

PAUL’S STRAIT BETWIXT TWO!

Phil 1:21-23 KJV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Phil 1:22-23 AMPLIFIED

22 If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference [I cannot choose],

23 But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;

          Paul uses the Greek word sunechomai which is translated “strait.” It means to be pressed in on all sides, to be perplexed and to not know what to choose. Paul was on a mission for his Master and had not received his final orders to return home. I think it would be helpful to quote Adam Clarke’s commentary here: “‎Paul appears to use a metaphor taken from the commander of a vessel, in a foreign port, who feels a strong desire ‎analusai‎, to set sail, and get to his own country and family; but this desire is counterbalanced by a conviction that the general interests of the voyage may be best answered by his longer stay in the port where his vessel now rides; for he is not in dock, he is not aground, but rides at anchor in the port, and may any hour weigh and be gone. Such was the condition of the apostle: he was not at home, but although he was abroad it was on his employer's business; he wishes to return, and is cleared out and ready to set sail, but he has not received his last orders from his owner, and whatever desire he may feel to be at home he will faithfully wait until his final orders arrive.”

(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

         Youth, even devout Christian youth, have a hard time understanding the strong desire to depart this life and to be with the Lord in Heaven. Young people have too much yet to accomplish to think about heaven. Those like Paul, however, who have been shipwrecked, beaten and left for dead, understand all too well the intense desire to depart. Paul said that it would be “far better.” The Amplified New Testament adds emphasis by saying that it would be “far, far better.” The Vulgate, however presses home the idea by saying that it is “much more better.” I think we get the idea. Heaven is a wonderful place.

         The rub comes when we have a loved one who is lingering between here and there. We desperately want to hold onto them and to keep them with us but sickness or age has brought them to the very gate of Heaven. It is hard to let go and to let them go. If our loved one is a believer, has been saved and trusted Christ, then the following Scripture is apropos.

2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Dear Lord, help us to know what to do. Let us see that Heaven is a much more better place than here. AMEN