- HEAVEN INTERMEDIATE STATE - Our loved ones, though no longer in the old bodies which had perhaps been filled with pain, are now with the Lord. They have been given spiritual bodies in which to function in heaven until the coming Resurrection day.

Present with the Lord

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8) 

This verse has proved of great comfort to many a sorrowing believer who has just lost a loved one.

Especially if they know that the parent or child or friend was also a believer in the saving work and person of Christ, then—although they sorrow—they “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). 

For that loved one, though no longer in that old body which had perhaps been filled with pain, is now with the Lord.

That is, he or she has been given a somewhat indescribable spiritual body in which to function in heaven until the coming Resurrection day.

Although that may not yet be the wonderful life that awaits them in their glorified, resurrection bodies in the ages to come, they will be “with Christ; which is far better” than this present life (Philippians 1:23). 

There are a number of sincere believers who argue that dead Christians will simply “sleep” until Jesus comes again to raise the dead.

While a certain case can be developed for this “soul sleep” concept, it is hard to see how that could be “far better” than this present life.

Paul said that he had a “desire to depart, and to be with Christ” and also that “to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:23, 21).

But what “gain” could there be for him in simply “sleeping” instead of continuing to live in Christ? 

The Scriptures do not reveal much about that “intermediate state,”

as it has been called. But there is that intriguing verse about being “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” who perhaps are somehow watching us as we “run with patience the race that is set before us” here on Earth (Hebrews 12:1).

That possibility can be a real incentive to do just that.

Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play out?

Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?

He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).

Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:

“Heavenly Father,

I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You.

Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.

I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).

I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.

Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.

Use me for Your glory.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

RELATED POSTS:

Answering Hard Questions About the Afterlife 

http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/05/answering-hard-questions-about.html

Heaven’s Thrilling, All-Encompassing Worship 

http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/07/worship-in-heaven-will-be-all.html

What Did Jesus Mean by Many “Mansions”? 

http://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/10/many-mansions-in-speaking-to-his.html

    Miracles Out Of Mistakes by Joel Osteen

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitH1oP01sc

        “Blessed Assurance”

                 Fanny Crosby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0uT0PrSbug  TommyWalker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1SfQJb6GcE HymnsofPraise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW2t2_lPV00  isbaptist oronto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOv7RmXi7VE  WorshipAlways

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT9esnBI5h4  biarritz59

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT9esnBI5h4   springharvest  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5E1gWdW3P8  ArnoldEdwin

lyrics

1 Blessed assurance; Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

     born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   angels descending bring from above
   echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest,

   I in my Savior am happy and blest;

  watching and waiting, looking above,

  filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]

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