DEPARTING TO BE WITH CHRIST
What is death like for the Christian? It is a departure to go and live somewhere else. It is moving from one location to another. That is all it is. It is not something to be feared, it is something to which we should look forward. Until then, we live for Christ for as long as God keeps us on this earth.
To leave the body in death is to go and be with the Lord, something that Paul said was “far better” than remaining on earth (Phil. 1:23). Nothing that this world can offer compares to what the believer has now and will have in Christ Jesus eternally. This is why it is so important to set our mind on things above (Col. 3:1-3). We should lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matt. 6:19-21).
The reason that we think this way is because we know that to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). We are either here on earth or in heaven with Jesus. There is no other place for us. If we are not here, we are there. So when a believer dies, it means that he or she is with the Lord.
Because of the resurrection of Jesus and the promises that He makes, we know that the end of earthly life is a peaceful transition into the presence of Christ (1 John 3:2). There will be no sorrow or suffering there. It is a perfect place prepared for people who have been made perfect by the love of Jesus.
Jesus has promised that He will return from heaven to take us to be where He is (John 14:3). Why do Christians say things like, “This world is not my home”? Because our hearts are wherever Jesus is. He is our treasure, and where our treasure is, our hearts will be (Matt. 6:21). We look forward to heaven because we want to be with Jesus forever.
The reason that we do not sorrow “as those who have no hope” is because the promises of Christ are our consolation that we will live forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Focusing on Christ is the greatest adventure in life. We are free to serve Christ for the rest of our lives because we know we love Him and want to be with Him forever. He is our life, and eternal life with Him is what true existence is.
The best is always yet to come for the Christian. Serve Him faithfully for the rest of your life, looking forward to being with Him forever.
Bryan Dewayne Dunaway
