2 Corinthians 5:8 – We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The family was on their summer holiday, making an early start to get the most out of the day. The sunrise, reflected in the calm lake, and framed by the surrounding mountains, made a perfect picture. Returning at the end of the day, they were able to capture a similar picture of the sunset, from the opposite side of the lake. Back home, as they projected the color slide of the sunrise on the screen, the comment was, "What a beautiful sunset!" When they showed the sunset, the comment was, "What a beautiful sunrise!" If the family hadn't been familiar with the landmarks, they themselves couldn't have distinguished between sunrise and sunset.

For the Christian, the sunset of life is really a sunrise. The committed Christian belongs to Christ, whether in life or in death. Because Jesus has conquered the power of death, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, for a believer. When anxious friends and relatives watch a Christian loved one die, they whisper, "He's gone!"; but friends who are waiting in the Father's mansion shout, "He's coming home!" When we live in Christ, the sunset of this life is but the sunrise of eternal life.

Prayer: Yes, Lord, we want to believe it! Be present in our hearts and give us the confidence that in You, we truly have eternal life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
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