Katie is the Senior Resource Consultant at Desiring God.

Recently I received an email from Anita, whose grandmother had just passed away at the age of 91. Nana, as she was called, was a modern-day testimony of what it means that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

Anita wrote,

About 5 years ago, Nana was given a book to read. The book was called Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. Nana loved this book. She read it out loud to herself (and to anyone within earshot)… twice!

At one point in the book, John Piper reflects on the Bible verse in Philippians where Paul says, "to live is Christ, to die is gain." He says that "death is a threat to the degree that it frustrates your main goals." I was reflecting on this and realized that Nana was not threatened by death…. In fact, she frequently told us over the past few years that she probably wouldn't live much longer—to the point where it became a joke!

Death has not robbed Nana of what she treasured the most. Death does not rob Nana of Christ. She lived for Christ, and now (because of Christ) her death is her gain. She is with her Lord and Savior.

So what does an email like this mean for me at the age of 24?

It is an encouragement and a reminder to not be fearful of death no matter if I live till tomorrow or till I’m 91. It is a reminder that death is not a bad thing if you are in Christ Jesus. In fact, it is the most exciting, most joyful thing to know that we will be sharing in eternity with our Savior!

This email is a reminder that we have one life to live for Christ. It has given me an increased desire to hear in the end, when all is said and done, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25: 23).