Immediately

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Have you ever wondered what happens the moment you die? In movies, we see stories of either bright lights or dark shadows. Some people believe in purgatory or reincarnation. Others believe when you die that’s just it…you just cease to exist.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you do not have to wonder what happens the moment you die. Scripture teaches that the moment a Christian dies, he/she is instantly transported into the presence of Jesus. There will be a time when we who believe in the Lord will receive a new, immortal body. That does not happen right away. All who have eternal life through faith in Jesus – past, present, and future – will receive our new bodies at the same time. What happens immediately, however, is that our spirit will leave our body and go to be with the Lord.

This is exactly what happened with Jesus. When He took His last breath on the cross, He said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46). Jesus didn’t commit His body because it was still hanging on the cross. He committed His spirit. Jesus also said to the thief on the cross who professed faith in Him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 24:43). That thief’s body was buried that day, but his spirit went to be with Jesus.

If I were to drop dead today, my spirit would be with Jesus before my body hit the ground. What gave me great comfort when my Mother went to be with the Lord was knowing that it is impossible to bury a follower of Jesus. Yes, we buried her body, but we did not bury her. This is the promise we have in Jesus Christ – that to be absent from the earthly body is to be present with Him…immediately.

Dear Lord, as your follower, I know that I can have comfort because the second my life on earth ends, I will be in your presence. Help me to have peace rather than worry because of that amazing truth. In Jesus' name, amen.