2 Corinthians 5:8
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (ESV)
Dear friends,
It’s a privilege to gather with you today to open God’s Word and consider a truth that brings hope and comfort to every believer: that when a true Christian leaves this earthly life, they immediately go to be with the Lord Jesus. This is not just a nice idea—it’s a rock-solid promise from God, meant to steady our hearts in sorrow, strengthen us in service, and fill us with hope as we face our own mortality.
Let’s walk through what this means, how it shaped the Apostle Paul’s life, and what it means for us today.
The Apostle’s Confidence
Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth, a church that sometimes misunderstood him and even accused him of being out of his mind for the way he lived so boldly for Jesus. Why did Paul keep going despite hardship, danger, and even persecution? He tells us plainly: it was because of his confidence in Christ’s promises—especially the promise of eternal life with Jesus after death.
In the previous chapter, Paul said,
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV)
Paul knew that what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory that awaits us. That’s why he could say, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8, ESV)
What Happens When a Saint Dies?
Paul is crystal clear: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. There’s no waiting room, no limbo, no purgatory. The moment a believer dies, their soul goes directly into the presence of Jesus.
He echoes this in Philippians 1:22–23:
“If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (ESV)
Paul’s hope—and our hope—is not just for the resurrection at the end of time, but for immediate fellowship with Jesus upon death.
The Privilege of Being with Christ
What does it mean to be “present with the Lord”? It means dwelling in the very place where Jesus is—the highest heaven, the Father’s house, the true home of every Christian.
Jesus said in John 14:2-3,
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (ESV)
When a believer dies, they move from this temporary tent—their earthly body—into their eternal home with Jesus. This is not some distant hope; it’s the immediate reality for every saint who dies in faith.
The Saints’ Immediate Presence with Christ
The Bible gives us several glimpses of this truth:
- Stephen, the first martyr, as he was being killed, looked up and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59, ESV) Stephen expected to be with Jesus right away.
- The thief on the cross heard Jesus say, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, ESV)
- Paul spoke of being “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2, ESV), which he elsewhere calls “paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:4, ESV).
Heaven is not some faraway, impersonal place. It’s the immediate, joyful presence of Jesus.
The Joy of Seeing Jesus Face to Face
While we live in this world, we love and trust Jesus, but we do not see Him with our eyes. Peter writes,
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)
But when we leave this life, we see Him face to face. As Paul says,
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, ESV)
The pure in heart, Jesus says, “shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8, ESV)
Heaven’s greatest joy is not golden streets or pearly gates—it’s Jesus Himself. To see Him, to know Him fully, to bask in His love and glory forever. Charles Spurgeon put it this way:
“To come to thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labor, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes.”
Perfect Conformity and Union with Christ
Here on earth, we are being made more like Jesus, but the process is slow and often painful. Paul says,
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
But in heaven, the process is complete. “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2, ESV)
The Puritan Richard Sibbes wrote,
“Glory follows afflictions, not as the day follows the night, but as the spring follows the winter; for the winter prepares the earth for the spring, so do afflictions sanctify the soul and make it fit for glory.”
When we see Jesus, all sin and brokenness will be gone. We will be perfectly united to Him, filled with His Spirit, and experience His love without any barrier.
Glorious Fellowship and Conversation with Christ
One of the sweetest joys of heaven is direct, unhindered fellowship with Jesus. Here, we pray and sometimes feel His nearness, but there, we will converse with Him face to face.
Jesus called His disciples friends (John 15:15, ESV), and in heaven, that friendship is perfected. The church is called the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7, ESV), and in heaven, the marriage is celebrated in full.
There will be no more distance, no more doubt, no more sin to cloud our relationship. We will know, even as we are fully known.
Sharing in Christ’s Joy and Reign
Heaven is not just a place of rest, but of joyful participation in Christ’s own joy and glory. Jesus prayed,
“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24, ESV)
We will share in His victory, His reign, and His joy. “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” (2 Timothy 2:12, ESV)
As Paul writes,
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17, ESV)
The Saints’ Concern for Christ’s Kingdom
Even as we look forward to heaven, our hearts are still concerned for the work of Christ on earth. The saints in heaven rejoice at every victory of the gospel, every sinner saved, every advance of God’s kingdom.
Jesus said,
“I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10, ESV)
The saints in heaven are not idle—they worship, serve, and rejoice in all that God is doing through His church. They are cheering us on, longing for the day when all things are made new.
The Example of a Faithful Servant
Today, as we remember a beloved servant of Christ who has gone to be with the Lord, we are reminded that this hope is not just for apostles and martyrs, but for every true believer.
This brother, like Paul, lived with his eyes fixed on Jesus. He poured out his life for the gospel, endured hardship, and finished his race with joy. Even as his earthly body failed, his spirit soared with confidence and peace, longing to see his Savior face to face.
As he once said, “My heaven is to please God and glorify Him, and to be wholly devoted to His glory. That is the heaven I long for.”
What a testimony! What a comfort to know that, though absent from the body, he is present with the Lord.
A Call to Seek This Privilege
So, dear friends, let’s not waste our lives chasing after things that will not last. Our bodies are frail, and our days are numbered. But for those who trust in Jesus, death is not defeat—it’s the doorway to glory.
Let’s seek after that great privilege: to be present with the Lord when our time comes. Let’s live with eternity in view, pouring out our lives for Christ, loving His church, serving others, and longing for the day when faith becomes sight.
As Paul urges us,
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9, ESV)
Let’s live for what matters most, so that when we are called home, we too may hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23, ESV)
The Peace of Dying in Christ
How precious it is to face death with peace, knowing our sins are forgiven, our future is secure, and our Savior waits to welcome us. How tragic to face eternity without Christ—don’t let that be your story.
If you have never trusted Jesus, turn to Him today. He died for your sins, rose again, and offers you eternal life. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” (John 3:36, ESV)
And for those who already believe, take comfort:
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Encouragement for Ministers and All Believers
To my fellow ministers and Christian workers: let’s be faithful in our calling. Let’s depend on the Holy Spirit, pray for revival, and labor for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. The work is hard, but the reward is sure.
As our brother found, “There is nothing in the world worth living for but doing good, and finishing God’s work, doing the work that Christ did. I see nothing else in the world that can yield any satisfaction, besides living to God, pleasing him, and doing his whole will.”
Let’s run the race with endurance, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Closing Comfort from the Psalms
Let me close with a word from the Psalms, a fitting anchor for our hope:
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV)
May we all, when our time comes, be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Amen.
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