We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
— 2 Corinthians 5:8 —
Mario Alvarez Rivero: Word of Grace Biblical Seminary | Mexico
Fearful moments, such as the loss of a loved one or bad news from the doctor, often awaken us to the brevity of life and the reality of death. No one wants to experience death. Better to avoid it entirely by being caught up in the clouds with our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:17). The idea of our soul being temporarily naked, without its body, makes us shudder. As believers, we need not fear death, for both life and death are protected and guided by Christ’s love. Unfortunately, we often forget that God has been preparing for us a future glory in eternity, and that it is the Holy Spirit Himself who will lead us into the presence of God when we die. Our text today speaks of the sense in which we are absent from the Lord while remaining in our earthly bodies. This is because we await that future glory in eternity. We live as strangers and foreigners in this world. We are not centered on the visible and temporary things around us; instead, we walk by faith. We anticipate the invisible and eternal things, knowing that it is far better to be at home with the Lord, even though this implies physical death! As believers, we need not fear death, for both life and death are protected and guided by Christ’s love. We trust in that glorious future that awaits us on the other side, knowing that it is truly “home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). Knowing that we will soon enjoy the presence of our Lord in eternity, we ought to live even now in such a way that is pleasing to Him.
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