A Glimpse of Glory

	We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

—2 Corinthians 5:8–9

What happens to believers when they die? They go straight into the presence of God. The Bible says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (see 2 Corinthians 5:8). Paul understood this when he said he had "a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:23).

When Stephen was being martyred for his faith, he was given a glimpse of glory. In Acts 7 we read, "But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' " (verses 55–56). Then we are told in Acts6:15 that Stephen's face became as bright "as the face of an angel." Here he was seeing over to the other side. He radiated God's glory.

When the great evangelist D. L. Moody was on his deathbed, his last words were, "Is this dying? Why, this is bliss. There is no valley. I have been within the gates. Earth is receding; heaven is opening; God is calling; I must go." Then Moody breathed his last breath.

It comforts me to think that when my son Christopher left this world, he was carried by angels into God's presence. I believe that with all of my heart. And I believe that is true of all Christians when their lives on earth come to an end.

When, as a believer, you leave this world, you will be carried by angels into the presence of the Lord and will be there with Him. If we could see how glorious it is, I am sure it would change everything about us.

~Greg Laurie~