“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
“…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus..” (Philippians 3:13-14)
This image of sockeye salmon swimming against the current appeared in my mind. With us being the salmon, I think of the current as the spiritual struggles we face throughout our lifetime. The evil is working at its full strength 247 to keep us away from Jesus with its lies and temptations. My sinful nature and desires play a part in it as well. I long for the future when we will be free of such obstructions in heaven.
As I research about this natural phenomenon called “salmon run” that happens every fall, I realize God has created salmon with such strong-willed, persevering and self-sacrificial characteristics. They are similar to what Christians strive to be.
Fully-grown salmon swim, in a run size ranges between 1.5 and 19 million, for up to 4000km from the sea back to their birthplace to spawn on the gravel beds. They swim upstream through rapids, up waterfalls, while avoiding predators for 20 days max! It is a popular sightseeing spot in BC, especially during the dominant season every 4 years. Most of the salmon die there after spawning. The end of the salmon’s life cycle is the birth of its new generation.
Notice how the salmon all are having the same goal and same mindset in unity to complete the run. They are very committed to this sole purpose of breeding that even death cannot deter them from this self-destructive journey. As Christians, we are called to live our life for Christ. Even if we face oppressions and our lives are threatened for the sake of Jesus, we shall not fear. In fact, we are blessed because “blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). Apostle Paul rejoiced in jail because his trials had further advanced the gospel even to the whole palace guards. Like Paul, we shall not be ashamed of the gospel but preach fearlessly, “because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16)
The salmon are so focused on completing the journey they would not eat on the way, but use up the fat they have accumulated during their lifetime. They really are giving their all for the purpose to be met. Have we given our best to our God such that His will is done and the great commission is complete on our part?
Salmon have literally lived up to this quote, “to die is gain”. Their death provides a tremendous amount of nutrients for the wildlife and environment such as bears, birds and woodlands near the riverbeds. I think for Paul, death was gain for him because he is now with Christ forever, which he longed for continually. Furthermore, his suffering and death have become gain for many as a great testimony for the faith of both believers and nonbelievers.
Pray that we will live out the characteristics of salmon, to fearlessly counteract against the current of the world, but let the Holy Spirit renew us daily, and strain forward to complete the work that God has called us to do. Pray that we all have this mindset of Paul, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. How precious it is to strive to live like Christ and for Christ, and to view our death as spiritually beneficial to others and ourselves!
© 2021 Rebecca Kwan All rights reserved
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三文魚洄遊
「因我活著就是基督、我死了就有益處。」（腓1：21）
想到在世間遇到的屬靈挑戰是多麼大, 魔鬼撒旦每日每夜用盡全力, 透過謊言和引誘嘗試把我們和基督隔開。腦海裏浮現成群結隊的三文魚逆流而上的畫面。我們要像三文魚一樣與力大無窮的逆流抗爭到底、奮力而上, 及至達到目的地。
網上搜尋之下發現這個自然現像是叫三文魚洄游。通常發生於每年秋天, 特別是每四年一次的旺季, 在BC省內是一個不容錯過的觀光點。神創造三文魚時賦予了願意犧牲、堅忍和專注的特性。這些特性都是我作為基督徒所追求的。
三文魚長大後在深海生活大概8年便會洄游到出生地，高峰期多至100萬至2千萬條三文魚同時洄游。它們穿過急流，上瀑布，同時避開捕食者，真是危機重重！目的就是為了回到出生地在碎石河床上產卵，並且大部分三文魚產卵後都會死去。所以，三文魚生命週期完結的同時便是下一代的開始。
三文魚非常忠於這繁殖後代的使命，就算是死也不能阻礙它們的忠心。而作為基督徒，我們忠心的對像是基督。就算為基督的緣故遇到逼迫、困難甚至生命也受到威脅時, 也不要害怕。因為基督跟我們說, 「為義受逼迫的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。」(太 5：10)使徒保羅在獄中喜樂，因為他所經歷的困苦令福音更加廣傳，甚至在皇宮裏的御營全軍也聽聞耶穌基督。願我們都像保羅一樣不以福音為恥，放膽傳講福音，因為福音本是神的大能要救一切相信的（羅1：16）。
還有，三文魚非常專注於完成這個旅程，途中不會停下來吃東西，而是盡用一生儲存的脂肪，好讓目標得以達成，不會延誤。我們是否也有這樣犧牲的精神，願意將最好的給神以致我們能完成神的旨意和大使命？
三文魚是真的活出這句經文，「死了就有益處」。它們生命的完結為河邊的生態環境, 例如熊、鳥類和林地, 帶來不同的營養, 以致附近的動植物都得益處。對於保羅來說, 死亡是有益的, 因為他終於可以與基督在一起, 這是他一直以來嚮往的。而且他的受苦與死亡為基督成了莫大的見證。無論是對於未信的, 還是對於信徒來說, 在學習信心上, 都有益處。
願我們活出三文魚的脾性，剛強壯膽地勝過世界的誘惑而逆流而上，讓聖靈每天更新我們努力向前完成神託付我們所作的工。禱告祈求我們都跟保羅學成「活著就是基督，死了就有益處」，靠著神的大能，活著像基督也為了基督，並用屬靈眼光看待我們的死亡，相信是它對於別人和自己都有益處！
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感謝讚美主!阿們!羅馬書八37。阿們!