“THIS VERY THING!”

2 Corinthians 5:5-10                           (ESV)

“5 HE who has prepared us for “THIS VERY THING” is GOD, WHO has given us the SPIRIT as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the LORD,

7 for we walk by FAITH, not by sight.

8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at HOME WITH THE LORD.

9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please HIM.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

The past few weeks has been very trying for me as I was dealing with a dear friend being called home, leaving her family and friends to continue fighting the fight and walking the walk of FAITH!  She is now HOME WITH THE LORD, never having to battle cancer ever again.  

The Apostle Paul describes in the passage of Scripture above that none other than GOD ALMIGHTY has prepared us for “THIS VERY THING”, that is being HOME WITH THE LORD!  HE even gave us HIS SPIRIT as a guarantee of HIS Promise for our lives.  The CREATOR of the universes prepared us to exit this world, but most of us live as though “it won’t happen to me”!  

Although my friend physically died yesterday evening, her Spirit was BORN AGAIN a long time ago when she was chosen to be a disciple for JESUS.  That is right, HE CHOSE HER!  John 15:16 says “You did not choose ME, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the FATHER in MY name, HE may give it to you”.  HE CHOSE HER to reflect HIS Character as a witness for ALL to SEE!  How did HE accomplish that?  In Matthew 19:16-30 JESUS explains to HIS disciples that only GOD can regenerate a Soul, only HE can do something that SEEMS impossible!  My friend had been regenerated, she had been BORN AGAIN!  

So why am I sad that HE chose her to be called HOME and I wasn’t?  Why do we grieve when a Saint is called HOME.  It is not because we don’t know where they are going?  It is not because we fear the unknown?  Scripture tells us in Psalms 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”.  Since THE CREATOR already is telling us that “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”, we should be REJOICING when a Saint leaves this world!  

Matthew 5:4 says “"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”.  GOD knew we would grieve when HE promised to comfort us.  A brother in CHRIST recently prayed that physical death was a tool to enter eternity.  My friend was ready last night for “THIS VERY THING”!  My prayer is that you are ready as well.