Absent from the body, present with the Lord

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, February 8, 2026

 

Title: Absent from the body, present with the Lord

 

2CO 5:5-8

 

God placed His Spirit in the hearts of the apostles (2 Corinthians 5:5) and prepared them for the future. They had no fear of death, and neither should we.

 

God will praise those who do not love their lives so much that they are unwilling to give them up: Matthew 16:24-28;

REV 12:7-11

 

In context, to be absent from the body (2CO 5:6) means to physically die. Where do we go when we die? The Lord’s presence: LUK 23:33-43

 

We long for the closeness we will enjoy in due time — because of that, we should be willing to be absent from the body and we should be of good courage (2CO 5:6).

 

Paul was ready to be absent from his body: ACT 21:10-14

 

Paul was ready to depart, he wrote: PHI 1:20-26

 

We long for an even more intimate relationship with God than we have now: PSA 42:1-5, PSA 73:21-28

 

We’ll have an even more wonderful one when depart. Praise God!

 

As long as we are in this body, we will need faith because of our hope is in something unseen. The world can’t fathom a life like that, but walk by faith, not by sight

(2CO 5:7).

 

The gospel of the cross is foolish to the world, remember: 1CO 1:18-31

 

We live by faith:

HAB 2:1-4

 

Faith is inextricably tied to things unseen:

HEB 11:1-3

 

Blessed are they that have not seen, but have believed nonetheless: JOH 20:19-29

 

Faith in Jesus Christ should help us keep our minds on things above:

COL 3:1-4

 

How does Jesus Christ dwell in our hearts? By faith: EPH 3:14-21

 

How do we have propitiation for our sins? Through faith in His blood:

ROM 3:21-26;

1JO 4:7-14

 

Paul writes that he and the apostles prefer to be at home with the Lord (2CO 5:8). What does it mean to be present with the Lord?

 

We shall see Him:

1JO 3:1-3

 

We shall know Him as he now knows us:

1CO 13:8-13

 

We will be taken away from evil, and enter into peace.

 

ISA 57:1-2;

REV 14:12-13

 

In conclusion:

Believers should not fear death

Being absent isn’t so bad after all if we’re present elsewhere

We live by faith anticipating things unseen