Confident

 I remember when I was in school; the teacher had what she called a roll book. In that roll book were the names of all the students as well as grades of all that were in her class. When class would start she would call names, Joe Morgan, Ron Ammon, and Mark Smith and so on. When we heard our name we would say present, if she called a name and that person didn’t answer she would mark absent by that student’s name. This meant they were not in hearing distance and more than likely were not even on the school grounds? There’s not a person reading this that doesn’t understand and realize that one day we are going to die, and be absent from our body. The Apostle Paul put it like this.

2Corinthains 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, Now to be absent means that we are not present, we are somewhere else; if Joe wasn’t in class then he might be present in the front seat of Mark’s car skipping school. They were present somewhere. Paul goes on and tells where he is present “to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. “ Was Paul saying that when his body was lifeless and absent from this present life that he would be present somewhere else? That is actually what he is saying.

2Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: Do you see the word Paul uses? “Confident” He says “always confident, knowing and confident and willing.”  Doesn’t sound like any doubt there; Paul was confident and knowing that while he was at home in his body he was absent from the Lord. Then he says but when the day comes and this body is cold I’m just as confident that being absent from my body I will be present with the Lord. We know by Paul’s own words where he is present today. So we will always be present somewhere we will never be completely absent and nowhere. Are you and I that confident and knowing?

On Tuesday we will see what really belongs to us and where we can or can’t take it.  Have a great day for the Lord has made this day so why not rejoice and be glad.