Present With The Lord

 

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

 

An old English poet once said that every death diminishes us a little. I believe that is true. Contrary to the common saying that “Death is a natural part of life” I refuse to believe that. From the time I was a child and at my earliest funerals there seemed nothing natural to me about death. If you have ever seen a human or animal body in rigor mortis you can’t tell me that is natural. The body itself seems torn and twisted by the death event. 

 

Death was never God’s original purpose for us. Sin brought death into the world, and the Lord moved heaven and earth to defeat death by sending His own Son to die upon a Cross to Destroy Death and the Grave. 

 

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 

 

And: 

 

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18 

 

Nevertheless, this earth is still awaiting the revelation of our full redemption. Our spirit is saved and will be present with Jesus at our death for those who are believers. And one day Jesus will return to this earth and make all things new–a world without death and decay. There is a verse that speaks of nature or the present created universe waiting expectantly for our full redemption. 

 

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21 

 

Years ago I saw a show where a little boy described his afterlife experience. He was pronounced dead for a certain extent of time and he described what he saw in heaven. He said while he was in heaven he was surrounded by puppies frolicking all around him. What a beautiful experience that little boy had. 

 

This past friday night our little dog of over 12 years old passed away peacefully in my wife’s lap. I could not swear to you that dogs go to heaven or have some sort of afterlife, but I would not be surprised by it. How wonderful it would be along with seeing old family friends and relatives who have passed on to also see our beloved pets that were our loyal friends. I certainly hope so. 

 

What I do know is that God is Good. He has blessings in store for us on the other side that are beyond our imaginations. There is life beyond this life for those who put their trust in Jesus as their Savior. Our present body must die because it has been a part of this diseased and decaying world afflicted by sin. 

 

But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. Romans 8:10 

 

Yet we have a new body awaiting us on the other side of this life. 

 

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 

 

We were not made for death. We were made to be God’s companions for eternity. We need not fear death when we have put our trust in Jesus for He has already conquered death for us. And the great hope of every Christian is that when our time comes to leave this earthly body we will be present with Jesus forever. 

 

Prayer: Dear Lord, death can be shocking and drive us to fear. Yet help us to always remember that You have conquered death and the grave and we need never live in fear or dread of them thanks to You! To live with Your presence in us is wonderful, but to die and see You face to face will be glorious! Amen.