“My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” - Philippians 1:23 Few truths anchor the Christian soul more deeply than the promise that, at death, we are immediately ushered into the presence of Christ. The unwavering hope of every believer is that death is not loss, it is gain. It is not disappearance, it is arrival.
Though Christ has removed all judgment for our sins, God has chosen to bring the final defeat of death at Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 15:26). Until then, we live in a fallen world marked by weakness, decay, and mortality. But for believers, death is never punishment. Christ absorbed every ounce of wrath on our behalf. What remains is the final step in our sanctification, drawing us into deeper union with our crucified and risen Lord (Phil 3:10).
Scripture could not be clearer: believers immediately enter the Present Heaven, the intermediate state where our souls enjoy conscious, joyful fellowship with Christ. Our bodies rest here, awaiting the future resurrection, but our spirits enter paradise, just as Jesus promised the repentant thief, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). And being with Christ is “far better” than anything we leave behind.
This hope leaves no room for purgatory, soul sleep, or prayer for the dead. Christ’s work is complete, His righteousness sufficient, and His promises sure. Believers need no post-mortem purification and no unconscious waiting. Our hope is immediate presence with our Savior.
The Present Heaven is filled with the redeemed who have gone before us, the “spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Heb. 12:23). Our separation now is painful, but temporary. The great reunion in Christ’s presence will be full, joyous, and eternal. Who are you looking forward to seeing again? To embracing?
For the believer’s own death, Scripture calls us to confidence, not fear, because to die in the Lord is to be blessed (Rev. 14:13). For the death of fellow believers, we grieve, but not as those without hope. The gospel allows us to weep and worship at the same time, knowing our loved ones are home with Christ. Like Job, we can say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). May this truth strengthen our faith, steady our sorrows, and stir our longing for the day when we too will see the Savior’s face.Why Do Christians Still Die?
What Happens When We Die?
What This Truth Rules Out
A Reunion Awaits
How Should We Face Death?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.