Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Grief & Loss
If they trusted Christ, Scripture speaks with surprising immediacy: today, with Me, far better. The thief on the cross was promised paradise that very day; Paul calls leaving the body going home to the Lord. The Bible pictures the body resting while the person is awake with Christ, which is why Scripture calls death sleep without ever meaning unconsciousness.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/what-happened-to-the-one-i-lost · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Luke 23:32-43
As you read: What the thief asks for, what Jesus grants instead, and the time frame Jesus uses.
32There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.
33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
35The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”
36The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,
37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
39One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
40But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
41And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
43Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
As you read: Paul's metaphors for death, and what he says we are while absent from the body.
1For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
3if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
4For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
7for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
10For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Philippians 1:18-26
As you read: Paul weighing two desires, and which one he calls far better.
18What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.
19For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.
23But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
25Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
26that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.
The dying thief asks to be remembered later, when Jesus comes into His Kingdom. Jesus answers now instead: 'Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.' Not someday, not after a long pause: that very day, and together with Him. For the believer, the moment of death is the moment of arrival.
“Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.””Luke 23:43
Paul faces death without dread because of geography: he is 'willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord'. Absence from the body and presence with Christ are one event described from two sides. That is why he could weigh life against death and conclude it is gain, having the desire 'to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.'
“Therefore we are always confident and know 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 courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:6-8
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose. But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”Philippians 1:21-23
Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus 'has fallen asleep'; Paul writes of believers who 'have fallen asleep in Jesus', whom God 'will bring with him'. Sleep pictures the body resting like a sleeper certain of waking, never the person ceasing to exist: the same Lazarus walks out talking, and the sleeping believers come back with Jesus. Sleep describes peace and certainty of rising; it never cancels the with-Christ immediacy of today.
“He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.””John 11:11
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”1 Thessalonians 4:14
Put the pieces together and Scripture's comfort is concrete: the believer you buried is with Christ now, conscious, home, and better off than we are, while their body rests awaiting resurrection. This does not erase missing them; it relocates them. You grieve your separation from them, not their abandonment by God.
“But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”Philippians 1:23
“We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8