Present with the Lord

 

 

“Absent from the body

And present with the Lord”

What does it mean

In the context of God’s word?

 

Maybe we read in too much

Maybe we read too little,

Perhaps we should take it as it is:

Every jot and tittle.

 

What was Paul saying

Regarding this sentiment?

We need to check its context

To see the apostle’s intent.

 

Death is no big deal

If you have the blessed hope,

In the midst of this life’s strife

The born-again will cope.

 

Two bodies are in perspective:

One present and one future

And if we read from verse 1

We get a better picture.

 

That picture is better framed

In 2^nd Corinthians 5:

Two bodies are highlighted:

And in both we are alive.

 

 

In the very first verse

Both bodies are mentioned

And throughout these ten verses

Paul paints the comparison.

 

The body we now possess

Paul calls our earthly house

And this tabernacle is put off

When we can no longer rouse.

 

The sleep of death is upon us;

We are naked, Paul says,

Our tabernacle will begin to dissolve

From our dying day.

 

In this tabernacle we groan

Desiring to be better clothed

For in this life we are burdened

With life’s heavy load.

 

 

Paul did not long to be naked

As in physical death

But for something far better:

To wit: his eternal rest.

 

This assurance is borne out

In the word confident as used:

You can check verse 8

If you so choose.

 

This assurance is given

In the earnest of the Spirit

That indwells the born-again believer

Establishing God’s divine edict.

 

While at home in the body

We are absent from the Lord

Hence, walking by faith and not by sight

Shows confidence in the Word.

 

When the believer wakes up

What is the first thing he will see?

His new house in the heavens

For all eternity.

 

Of course, some believe

This is immediately on dying

But given the overall picture,

That one I am not buying.

 

 

However, as we grapple with this

We need never fall out

For the fact regarding a new body

Can never be in doubt.

 

Our timing is in question

Not the validity of God’s plan

And he will bring it to pass

By His Almighty hand.

Whether it be immediate

Or whenever the Lord returns,

There is nothing wrong right now

If after it we yearn.

 

We’ll have a new body

Praise the Lord!

We’ll have a new home.

 

Stewart Russell © May 16, 2021