‘…To go and be with Christ, which would be far better…’ Philippians 1:23 NLT
No matter how much you enjoy where you are living at present, there’s always a longing in your heart for the place you call ‘home’. And how much more so for those who have been born again into God’s redeemed family! The world has its beautiful shorelines and landscapes, but deep down we yearn, like Paul, for our heavenly Father, heavenly family and home. ‘For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better…I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.’ (Philippians 1:21-23 NLT) Leaving this life to be with Christ, in Paul’s judgment, ‘is far better’. Far better than what? Anything else! Nothing here can compare with what awaits you there! ‘…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him…’ (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT) You ask, ‘How will this transition happen to us?’ At death, ‘The dust [our body] returns to the ground it came from, and [our] spirit returns to God who gave it.’ (Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV) Our bodies will ‘fall asleep in Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 15:18) Our God-indwelled spirits return to His presence, delighting in ‘the fullness of joy’ and revelling in the ‘pleasures forevermore’ that are found in abundance at His right hand (Psalm 16:11). While we wait, anticipating our best days, Heaven’s hosts rehearse for the drama of the ages, the awesome return of Christ as we accompany Him in our glorified bodies! We say, ‘…Come, Lord Jesus.’ (Revelation 22:20 NIV)
SoulFood: Gal 4-6, Mark 12:13-27, Ps 101, Pr 13:20-23
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2012
