2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV): To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
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When we read the words “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” we often immediately think of death, the end of our earthly journey. For many believers, it becomes a comforting thought, knowing that death is not the end but a transition to the eternal presence of God. However, this passage is not only a promise for those at the end of their lives but a truth that applies to our daily walk with Christ.
As believers, we are called to experience the death of our old selves in Christ. In Romans 6:6 (BSB), Paul writes, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
Glory is not only available to those who have died and transitioned to eternity.
The truth is that you cannot taste the fullness of God’s glory until you experience the death that comes with being crucified with Christ. It’s in the surrender, in letting go of control, in submitting our desires to His will, that we position ourselves to experience more of His presence.
When we lay down our lives, we experience His presence in deeper ways. It’s in this spiritual death that we encounter the resurrection power of God in more profound ways. Hallelujah!
