[316]. Poem Message - To Be Absent From The Body And At Home With The Lord

[316]. A POEM MESSAGE - TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD

This poem means a lot to me.

What of the future? What of the glorious hope? What of the Christian’s destiny? These questions all have one answer – TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS PRESENT WITH THE LORD!

That is taken straight from what Paul wrote – {{2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at HOME IN THE BODY WE ARE ABSENT FROM THE LORD - for we walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE AT HOME WITH THE LORD.”}}

We are citizens of earth in different nationalities but the born again Christian is also a citizen of heaven – {{Philippians 3:20-21 “OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”}}

We live our lives on earth until the moment when that existence ceases. When the Lord calls us home through the avenue of death, OR we are called to Him in the Rapture if we are still on earth, then we truly are absent from the body and present with the Lord.

There is no waiting in some form of non-consciousness such as we have under anaesthetic in an operation, waiting for some future time. The change is instant. Absent from the body = immediate reality in the Lord’s present. I believe our Lord who loves us and died for us will welcome each of us personally when we are called home.

Paul once described a man (it could have been himself some say, but I doubt that) who was caught up to the third heaven which is where the Lord is, God’s uncreated dwelling place. That incident gives us just the smallest hint of heaven’s wonder – {{2 Corinthians 12:4 “was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”}}. Just one other verse – {{1 Corinthians 2:9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”}}

It is suggested that Paul is quoting from some now lost source where this was written. Many sources are lost. Also there is a likeness to this Old Testament verse – {{Isaiah 64:4 “From of old they have not heard nor perceived by ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him.”}}

This poem came beautifully to me and I love it. We have sung it at our small church fellowship and many tunes fit. I have added a few at the bottom of the poem. We used Beethoven’s 9th – Ode to Joy.

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TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD

To be absent from the body,

To be present with the Lord;

To be robed in linen garments

With eternal life unflawed.

I will then be in His presence,

Where the saints of God will shine,

And that blessed sinless pleasure -

O, that joy will then be mine.

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Heaven’s call will soon come to us

Bathed in joy and happiness.

He will raise His saints up to Him,

Called from this world’s wretchedness.

In an instant changed forever,

In the power of His might,

And the glories then of heaven,

Will be wondrous in our sight.

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It was grace that sought and saved us;

Nothing of it we deserved.

Wonders grace has stored up for us,

That in glory are reserved.

We will see our splendid Saviour,

Gathered with His ransomed throng.

Faces shine in radiance bright,

As they praise their Lord in song.

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To be absent from the body,

To be present with the Lord,

And we long for that appearing,

As we rise to our reward.

Soon comes Jesus, and He’ll change us

In the twinkling of an eye.

We’ll behold His full perfection,

Being flawless, we won’t die.

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21 September 2021 R E Ferguson Metre = 8-7-8-7D A-B-C-B-D-E-F-E

COULD USE BEETHOVEN 9TH. HYMN TO JOY (“Joyful, Joyful”)

BEECHER (“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”)

CONVERSE (“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”)

There’s a light upon the mountain