08-02-2026 Present with the Lord

Text: II Corinthians 5:8

                Everyone of us has a limited amount of time on this earth.  Medical Scientists haven’t been able to find a way to abolish death.  The truth is that they never will.  There are those who think they can outsmart death by freezing their bodies while they are still alive so that when scientists find found a way allow humans to live forever, they will have their bodies unfrozen.  But that’s just wishful thinking on their part because only God has the power to defeat death.  Psalm 90:10 tells us that the average life span for us is 70 to 80 years. And yes, many will live more and many will live less, but the point is, none of us are getting out of here alive unless we’re fortunate enough to be alive at the moment of the Rapture when Jesus calls His children to meet Him in the air.

                Our text today is one verse in I Corinthians 5:8 where Paul writes:  “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”  Paul is telling us that we should never be afraid to die because this life and the world in which we live is only a temporary for the souls of all believers to reside until the time comes for us to receive our eternal bodies and be with our Lord in Heaven.  So, what does it mean when Paul tells us we’re confident and willing to be present with the Lord?

                Our earthly bodies are one of many of the wonders of God’s creation as we are told in Genesis 2:7.  We were created from the dust of the ground and then given life by the breath of God.  Psalm 139:14 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Each and every person is a walking miracle made by our Creator’s own hand.  After all this time, medical researchers still marvel at the complexity of the human body.  Yet, as wonderful and complex as the human body is, it will always have limits.  Poor health and handicaps may hold us back.  As we age the limitations of our bodies and minds become more present.  But, when the time comes and we’re present with the Lord, all the limits of our earthly bodies will have come to an end.

                That will be the time that we will be changed and will be received into the realms of Glory to be present with Jesus our Lord.  We never have to fear death because it means that we will be arriving Heaven without the restrictions we had to live with because of our human bodies.  We know that Jesus left this earth and ascended into Heaven.  So, when we take our last breath on earth, we will finally meet our Savior face to face in Heaven.

                There aren’t a lot of details in the Bible that describe Heaven.  But from what we do know, it’s a place like nothing we have ever seen in this world and it’s more wonderful than we can ever imagine.  It will be our eternal home.  When we get there, we will be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us.  In addition to Jesus, we will have the opportunity to meet all of the giants of our faith including but not limited to Paul, the author of today’s text; Peter, Noah – imagine having a conversation with him about building and being on the ark with all those animals; King David, the shepherd boy who killed the giant Goliath with a sling shot; and so many others that we can only read about in our Bibles now.  Revelation 5:9 tells us that we will never get tired of rejoicing in our redemption from the sins of this world and we will sing praises to Jesus, the worthy Lamb of God who saved us so that we could be returned to the family of God and spend eternity in Heaven.

                This is the future we have to look forward to when we’re present with the Lord.  But what does it have to do with our life today?  Well, no matter how hard this life is, we can look forward to what we will be one day experience in Heaven.  Every burden that we experience while in this world can be lightened by the promise of what’s waiting for us when we get there.  Our challenge is keeping our faith strong and instead of focusing on the pain and, suffering and uncertainty of this life, keep our focus on the prize waiting for us for eternity. 

                The truth is that the promise of Heaven isn’t available to everyone.  It’s only promised to those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and allow Holy Spirit to guide how they live while on earth.  Everyone that does that has the promise that Paul speaks of:  when we’re absent from this earthly body, we are present with the Lord.  So, on this morning when we remember the death of Jesus on the Cross for us, if you haven’t yet invited Jesus into your heart, please don’t wait any longer.  The very moment you commit to accepting Jesus as your Lord and allowing Jesus to be into your heart, you’re assured that you too with be present with Him the moment this life ends.  Don’t wait any longer.  There are so many things that could end our lives in an instant on any given day.  When that happens, if you haven’t accepted Jesus, it will be too late.  Don’t take that risk.  You’re never too young or too old to make the choice that will secure your eternal future.

                Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.