2 Corinthians 5:6-10 "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at
home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
Looking at the verses above, we clearly see TWO different aspects in the same verse. The first is our wish (as Born-Again Christians) to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is already noted by many, that the first is concerning those that are saved to Jesus Christ and those that are NOT saved to Jesus Christ. (First division, which is fairly obvious) Meaning that as a Born-Again Christian, while we live here on this planet, we are absent (Physically) from the Lord, which grieves us. The Un-Saved does NOT care about this, therefore, there is little to be discerned concerning them. The Second part of the First Part is as simple, actually a flip-flop if you will, we would rather be absent in the Body and Present with the Lord...which is easily understandable for the Born-Again Christian. It is at this very spot, we see a “Bifurcation”, the actual Second Part!
This second part is different, almost completely, to the first part in the verses. The view point is changed, the person is no longer looking at an individual that wants to be with the Lord. The Viewpoint is now shifted to a “Place and Time”. This place is exclusively for the Born-Again who are in Heaven...right now (So to speak)! Jesus Christ is NOT judging anyone as to whether they are going to Heaven or Hell, this is already a done deal. Jesus Christ is judging the “Faithful” according to their actions while on earth. Now a lot of people are beginning to squirm a little, because they KNOW the list of their sins, so....at this time...lets remember something! Did YOU or did YOU NOT...ask the Lord to forgive you of your sin?! Remember also, that in following Jesus Christ, we are washed in HIS blood on the Cross, therefore we are NOT being judged for our sins at this particular time! Jesus Christ is handing out the many Crowns HE promised those, that are deserving! What is also unique about this is, all of it is about Love!!
What else is new for us here? We already KNOW the Lord God Almighty Loves us with an un-ending Love! The real question here is “What is do we really want and how far are we willing to go, to receive what we want”?? The answer is really simple, “We want to be with the Lord in Heaven...and the only way to get there is to die as a human”! So this implies, we truly “Believe” in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The Next part is very difficult! Are YOU willing to DIE to get there?! Oooh...BIG snag there...right?? We already know that we get “three score and 10 years (70 Years)” or there about, to live here on this planet, but the question comes, “Is that enough time for YOU”?! “Whoa!! Wait a second now! Lets re-look at this for a second, something sounds a little fishy!!” YOU might be saying. “Ummm...I'm just 60 right now, that means in approximately 10 years or so...I must DIE?!” For a moment, you begin to think about Parents or Grandparents...some...of whom saw 90 years and the prospect of DEATH now seems a little on the harsh side! Then you begin to think, well, Jesus Christ died too and HE was only 33 years old, but still...70 years or so...Wow! That's a bit much, don't you think?! Then the thought occurs to you, how else do you get from here (Earth) to there (Heaven), you must die. Then the verse really hits home, “To be absent from the body (At the very micro-second of your body's death) you are present with the Lord!” Maybe it isn't as bad as you first thought it would be...for the moment!
Okay, so here come all the questions! (Q)“Why must it be at 70 or so years?” (A) Would it truly matter if it was 70 years or 200? The problem is, it would still seem harsh even if you had 200 years! Think in terms of what would you have to suffer in 200 years! Remember, time is relevant! Also, according to Psalm 90:10 "The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70 years); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Is anyone paying attention here to what the Word of God has just said? 70 years or there about...that's it!! You have the “normal amount of labour” and the “normal amount of Suffering”!! If by chance you live to 80 years, your extra years are with extra labour and Suffering! Still not convinced? Maybe in the extra 10 years, you have the opportunity to watch one of your children die. Now do you understand?? There is a reason for everything that happens and that is according to the Lord God Almighty!
So why should there be any problem with DEATH?? YOU already know, it's coming for YOU, as well as for me. Question is...where are YOU going to be during all of Eternity? THAT is what you should be worried about!! Death is NOT the end...of anyone, it's the first step in getting YOU to the place YOU have chosen to spend Eternity in...Heaven or Hell. Being a “Good Person” will NOT get you into Heaven! The ONLY way to Heaven is through...Jesus Christ...and that's it! YOU must come to Jesus Christ and ask for the Forgiveness of YOUR sin! You must admit YOU are a sinner and that YOU need HIM to save you,, that YOU Know HE was crucified for YOUR sin, was dead and buried and rose again and is in Heaven...waiting for you! THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!
Just as Jesus Christ is the ONLY Savior, know that death is the only way to get to heaven! Except for those that go in the “Rapture”! The word “Rapture” comes from the Greek “Harpazo” and literally means to “Be caught up or snatched away from”. Then the word was translated by the Latin word “Rapturo” which is then translated into English as “Rapture”. So the word “Rapture” does exist in the Bible!! What must be understood is this, one day very, very, soon, the “Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ” is going to take place and YOU will either go in the Rapture or YOU will be left behind! Notice something here please...”The Church of Jesus Christ”...has nothing to do with anyone else, ONLY Jesus Christ. It is NOT the “Church of Mother Mary or of Allah, or of Buddha, or anyone else” it is strictly those that belong to Jesus Christ. Those that are covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ, from the Cross at Calvary! I did NOT say this...God's Holy Word to us the Bible...which is God talking to us...said this! If by chance YOU do not like this...take it up with God!
I hope you understand this, I am asked by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to tell others about HIM, to expound the Words in the Bible and that is exactly what I am trying to do here and now. It is NOT my choice to make you angry or upset, I am doing as my Lord has asked me. If you decide NOT to believe what the Bible says, that's fine with me...I am NOT here to convert you...only God can do that! I will be sad, if YOU do NOT show up in Heaven...but that is between YOU and GOD! God has given YOU just as much of a chance to accept HIM as HE gave me! I decided I want Jesus Christ and I chose to go to Heaven and that is enough for me!
KNOW this...”Death” is NOT the end! If YOU chose NOT Jesus Christ...YOUR going to wish death as human was the end!! I don't care what anyone says, when it comes to dying everyone is the same, they all want to know everything is going to be okay. Here is the point...everything will NOT be okay, because there was a choice to make Heaven or Hell...the vast majority will choose Hell!! They have NO idea of how bad Hell is going to be and in their ignorance they chose Hell. The Bible says it is a place of GREAT suffering and gnashing of teeth...that's enough for me, I hate pain! Just make sure you KNOW where you have chosen to go and then how to get there!! IT is YOUR Choice and no one is holding your hand and no one can push you either way!
Here's a small story in the Bible, it's called “The Rich man and Lazarus”! It 's in Luke 16:19-31 "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Just so YOU know!!
