At Home With God

In another commentary on this point, MacArthur says, “Life for Paul was a race to finish, a battle to win, a stewardship to discharge. Once the race was over, the battle won, and the stewardship discharged, Paul saw no reason to cling to this life. The only reason for him to remain on earth was to serve God, and he stated his readiness to leave when that service was complete: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Tim. 4:6–8)

B. With the Lord

One of the accusations leveled against Christians these days is that we are ‘off our rockers’ because we want to die. Sometimes that idea is used by some who would rather not have to be responsible to God; and just want to hurt the cause of Christ. And we Christians say, sometimes uncaringly and pathetically that the person that has passed on “is in a much better place.” On the face, the statement is blatantly true; but what comfort is there in that when we are experiencing the pain of loss? What I want you to notice here, is that Paul does not say he wants to be a martyr or that he wants to die; but he rather prefers to be absent from the body at home with the Lord. The word in the Greek language means to ‘think well of’ or ‘take pleasure in.’ Overall, it might mean to be ‘well-pleased with.’ Paul’s idea of life is not to die for God; but to live for God and demonstrate God’s glory in His Life. How is God defined in your life today? Do you demonstrate God’s hatred of sin? How about His love for righteousness and truth? Do you demonstrate His love and mercy in your life? He wants you to be concerned with these things!

Transition: Paul must have really thought a lot about the difference of living in this broken world and living with His Father in Heaven. He best says it like this: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” Again, for Paul living meant that good things would be produced; but in death, there would be a new home; a desire to be with Jesus. I will speak more about this later; but sufficed to say for now, there was a reason why Paul would think it better to be with Jesus rather than go on living here, even when it meant having a more fruitful life in following Jesus.

Another interesting point in the passage here; is that Paul includes the idea of courage. He identifies courage as being an attribute of both being at home in the body, and preferring to be at home with the Lord. How many of us would willingly go to heaven right now? Or do we rather have an attitude like, “I want to go Lord, But I have a few things to settle here before you take me!” Or maybe the opposite is true for you? You are not optimistic about what you might accomplish now; but defeated? You are just so hurt by life, you hope for something better? Paul seems to be saying, “While living in this world takes courage, so does the prospect of being translated into another realm.” (Look at the passages/how Paul talks about courage