For me to live is Christ, to die is gain (Philippians 1:21 NIV)

Sometimes there are paragraphs from books, lines from songs, excerpts from movies, or situations in life that so capture my attention I almost have to take mental snapshots of them, process those moments through my mind, frame them, and hang them up to look at until I really see with clarity what it was that caught my eye to begin with. That happened to me not long ago while watching a movie on video. I hadn’t gotten too far into the first scene when one of those moments hit and ultimately refreshed my memory on a great scriptural truth. We were watching the movie, First Knight. In the opening scene, Lancelot is sword playing in a small English community, using his skills to win money…his method for making a living. Taking the challenge, and losing abruptly, a local villager, Mark, asks Lancelot if he can learn to fight with the same skill. Lancelot assures him that he can if he strictly adheres to certain guidelines, at which point he instructs Mark with a couple of pretty technical sword fighting disciplines. Mark, seemingly encouraged, nods in affirmation, “I can do that! I can do that!” Then Lancelot smiles humbly and carefully reveals his final secret, “And you can’t care whether you live or die.” As the realization slaps Mark upside the head, he looks away dejectedly…he knows he cares too much about living.

The apostle Paul had learned this secret years before. He had a hard time choosing—life or death? Whichever one came his way meant victory. That’s because he knew that either option meant Christ would be exalted, the gospel proclaimed and the Kingdom of God advanced. This truth became his secret to courageously and fearlessly sharing before commoners or kings and it was also his secret to being content no matter what his circumstances. Personally, I’ve always admired Paul’s confidence and ability to stand strong in any of life’s situations. I liked the way he could approach life saying, “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…” (Philippians 1:20).

It was this realization that dawned as I processed the opening scene from First Knight. I’m okay with a lot of the technical disciplines of the Christian life. I can do those. But do I care too much about living that I can’t skillfully yield the sword (the word of God) and sufficiently speak up with the courage of an apostle Paul to share truth no matter where I am put? If not, then I’ve not learned the real secret of skillful sword fighters: you can’t care whether you live or die.

–Peggy Forrest

Have you learned the secret as all skillful swordsmen must–to live is Christ, to die is gain (it doesn't really matter if you live or die)?