Many years ago I came across a short Bible study that was written with verses in 2nd. Corinthians 4:16 thru 5:8 in mind. I will give you the verses and then share with you the short study that I recently found again in an old Bible that I had gotten out to use. The study was tucked within the pages and as I read it again, the reasons for my keeping it became apparent.
2nd. Corinthians 4:16 thru 5:8 " Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For we know that if our earthly house (physical body), this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from GOD, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation (new heavenly body) which is from Heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
For we who are in this tent groan being burdened not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now HE WHO has prepared us for this very thing is GOD, WHO also has given us the SPIRIT as a guarantee.
Therefore, 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. " 2nd. Corinthians 4:16 - 5:8 NKJV
We all have trepidation when it comes to death; but the child of GOD should look at it as it is, ' Our faith becoming sight. ' All that we have put our eternal hope into will become visual. We will see the LORD as HE is; we will have bodies that no longer give us grief; our loved ones who have died, in CHRIST, will be there; our mansions will be finished; all the saints that the LORD had written about will be there for us to meet; and so many other things that are not written but I am sure GOD has much for us to do, and we will love every second of it for ALL eternity !
The short Bible study that I came across was called ASCENDED ! Here it is in its entirety:
Joseph Parker (1830 - 1902) was a beloved English Preacher in the Congregational denomination. When his wife died, he didn't have the customary wording inscribed on her gravestone. Instead of the word died followed by the date of her death, he chose the word ASCENDED.
Joseph Parker found great comfort in being reminded that though his wife's body had been placed in the grave, the " real " Mrs. Parker had been transported to Heaven, into the presence of her SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. When Parker himself died, it's no wonder that his friends made sure that his gravestone read: ASCENDED November 28, 1902.
When a loved one dies in the LORD, or when we face dying ourselves, there's great comfort in the fact that " to be absent from the body " is " to be present with the LORD. " Death for us is NOT a dark journey into the unknown. It is not a lonely walk into a strange and friendless place. Rather, it is a glorious transition from the trials of this earth into the joys of Heaven, where we will be reunited with our loved ones in CHRIST who have gone on before us. Best of all, we will enjoy the presence of our LORD JESUS, forever !
YES, when a believer dies, the body is buried but not the soul.
It has ASCENDED ! -- R.W.D
Oh, how blessed is the promise
When our spirit is set free:
To be absent from the body
Means to live, O LORD, with THEE ! -- H.G.B.
" Absent from the body and to be present with the LORD. " Now that can come through death, but we as children of GOD are also looking for the next great thing in the LORD's timeline; the " rapture " of HIS Bride the church before the Tribulation period. If this happens before death, we will be called up into the clouds by the LORD and the dead bodies of the saints will be changed and reunited with their souls and all this " will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. " Does anyone know how fast light makes a twinkle in the eye ? Well that is how fast the " rapture " of the LORD's Bride, will happen and it can be any day, even right this moment as you are reading this !
So chin up, eyes up, spirit's up, hearts lifted, and your soul ready for the coming of the LORD; whether by death or the rapture our " faith will become sight. "
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
