At a time when someone is suffering from the loss of a loved one, we often say to them, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” The scripture that we have used to glean that bit of hope has more to say to the living than about the one that has gone on. “So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 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” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). The scripture is not speaking of being absent from the body as in death but as in life. When we care more for our LORD than our own body then we are “present with the Lord.”

Before He was crucified Jesus said, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:19-20). And He prayed, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). The words that we have used to try and give comfort, to ones that have lost a loved one, is truly comfort for the living; those that are living in the LORD and not for the comfort of this earthly body.

Watching a loved one suffering in an earthy body and knowing her time to depart was near, I prayed for answers. Why was someone that loves the LORD suffering so much pain? God has answered me with the scripture that I have spoken to others when their eyes asked the same question, but I never really understood until today. Once we have the Lord’s life as our life, His righteousness as our salvation, and His word as our peace we no longer live for the earthy body, but for the presents of the LORD. When we accept Jesus Christ, we are no longer in this suffering earthly body but in the One that suffered to bring us life eternal. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord!

“And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:23). “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us” (1 John 4:10-12). “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever . . . I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-16 & 18).

© 2006, Tim D. Coulter Sr.