Dear Friends,
I love this picture, I love everything about it. It was something that helped pull me out of deep grief when I lost my parents. The reminder that death is a comma and we go right into our Savior's arms is our great hope! To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord....
Our loved ones who have gone before us who are Christians immediately go into Jesus arms. I am so blessed to say I held both of my parents as they went into Jesus arms during their last breath. This picture has helped remind me of where they are and while I'm missing them so very much, they are with Him, out of pain and suffering and experiencing pure joy.
The phrase “absent from the body” is found in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8. Paul states that he is confident in his eternal destiny and longs for the day when he can be “absent from the body” and be present with the Lord he loves and serves. To be “absent” from one’s body simply means to die because, at death, the spirit is separated from the body and moves into its eternal abode—either heaven with the Lord or hell, separated from God for eternity.
In the same way, Christians are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the presence of God. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Every day we feel the Holy Spirit's presence when we walk in the spirit...
I love David Jeremiah's reminder:
Two natures beat within my breast
The one is foul... the one is blessed
The one I love... the one I hate.
The one I feed will dominate!
Let us always remember the Holy Spirit lives in us as believers and reading God's word, praying and being with other believers helps us to stay focused on eternal things. We are to be in the world but not of the world.. So hard to do yet these reminders help us!!
To the church at Philippi Paul wrote from a Roman prison:
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:21-24).
Paul’s desire in life was to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. If he lived, he could continue to labor for the Lord. If he faced execution, he would depart this life and be with Christ. He desired to be with his Savior, but if he remained on earth, he could continue to minister to others.
This gives us the reminder " Only one life Twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last"...
Today as we go about our day and reflect on those who have gone before us, the Kobe and Gigi Bryant and all who perished tragedy, all who lay their lives down for us every day as soldiers, police, fire fighters and first responders, let us remember the big picture...
As Christians Jesus is our hope and the reason we are still here is that He has work for us to do. We are disciples making disciples and every day that we have here is a gift and we are to use it well.
One day and no one knows when... it will be our turn to stand before our Lord. Let us be sure we are ready and we will hear the words we long to hear... "Well done, good and faithful servant"....
AMEN!!!