Probably everybody wants to go to heaven when they die.  At least, they certainly don’t want to go to hell! But have you thought about what it would be like to wake up and find yourself in heaven—not knowing your way around?  Common belief is that Peter will be there to welcome you, but actually we don’t find that in the Bible.

But you don’t have to worry about feeling lost. The Bible says that when Jesus is our Savior, when we die, we’re immediately with Him.  Paul says that to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord. No intermediary place, no time lapse.

Notice Paul doesn’t say, “To be absent from the body is to be in heaven,” as wonderful as that would be.  He says something far more fantastic–that when we die, we’re instantly with the Lord—in His presence—near to Him. In fact, Paul says he would “prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Don’t you love that expression “at home with the Lord”?

Paul also tells us what will happen if we are still alive when He returns.  He says that “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). He continues, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). I’m sure you noticed that phrase again–“with the Lord.”

Just think of it! With the One who loves you more than anyone else. The one who died for you on the Cross. The One who has walked with you through life and to whom you have spoken countless times in prayer. You’re really going to be with Him—at home—forever.  Magnificent promise!