A wonderful hope

“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

This morning one of the pillars of our church passed away, Mrs. Rose Long. As I spoke to family members and had prayer, I thought of Paul’s words, “We are well pleased to be absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Death is the King of Terrors to those who do not know Christ. But for believers it’s a guided tour led by angels that takes us into the blessed hope of which we read and sing. We enter a land of rest and peace. No more warring with the world, flesh, and devil. The heartaches and sorrows of this life are over (Revelations 21).  The sickness, the pain, and frailty of these tattered, torn, worn out tents (2 Corinthians 5) we call bodies we be left for a world where sorrow and pain will be no more (Rev. 21). 

What a comfort to know our loved ones that have gone before us are at rest.  What a wonderful salvation has been provided for us by one whose name is Wonderful (Isaiah 9).