" WORD of TRUTH Lighthouse ": "With CHRIST Forever !"

Philippians 1:19-30 "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also CHRIST shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with CHRIST; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; that your rejoicing may be more abundant in JESUS CHRIST for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of CHRIST: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent. I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of GOD. For unto you it is given in the behalf of CHRIST, not only to believe on HIM, but also to suffer for HIS sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me."

One of the chief blessings of the eternal state is that we will be with JESUS CHRIST, enjoying HIM and HIS presence for all eternity. I did not fully recognize the emphasis that the Scriptures give to this wonderful truth until just recently. A Bible teacher shared with me numerous texts which, taken together, made a great impression upon my heart. Consider the following verses (emphasis added):

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto MYSELF; that where I AM, there ye may be also" (John 14:3).

To the thief on the cross JESUS said, "To day shalt thou be with ME in paradise" (Luke 23:43).

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD" (1st.Thessalonians 4:17).

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LORD" (2nd.Corinthians 5:8).

"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with CHRIST; which is far better" (v.23).

"For GOD hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with HIM" (1st.Thessalonians 5:9-10).

It is not only our desire to be with CHRIST, but it is also GOD's desire and joy to be with us ! "FATHER, I will that they also, whom THOU hast given ME, be with ME where I AM; that they may behold MY glory, which THOU hast given ME" (John 17:24 Pictured above).

No more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain are fantastic future realities, (Revelation 21:4 pictured below)