we are of good courage,I say, and preferratherto be absentfrom the bodyand to be at homewith the Lord.
Therefore,being alwaysof good courage,and knowingthat while we are at homein the bodywe are absentfrom the Lord--
Beloved,nowwe are childrenof God,and it has not appearedas yetwhatwe will be. We knowthat whenHe appears,we will be likeHim, becausewe will seeHim justas He is.
"IfI goand preparea placefor you, I will comeagainand receiveyou to Myself,that whereI am,[there] you may be also.
Thereforewe alsohave as our ambition,whetherat homeorabsent,to be pleasingto Him.
As for me, I shall beholdYour facein righteousness;I will be satisfiedwith Your likenesswhen I awake.
You will makeknownto me the pathof life;In Your presenceis fullnessof joy;In Your righthandthere are pleasuresforever.
There will nolongerbe anycurse;and the throneof Godand of the Lambwill be in it, and His bond-servantswill serveHim;
ThenPaulanswered,"Whatare you doing,weepingand breakingmy heart?For I amreadynot onlyto be bound,but evento dieat Jerusalemfor the nameof the LordJesus."
"Father,I desirethat they also,whomYou have givenMe, be with Me whereI am,sothat they may seeMy glorywhichYou have givenMe, for You lovedMe beforethe foundationof the world.
"NowLord,You are releasingYour bond-servantto departin peace,Accordingto Your word;
"His mastersaidto him, 'Well done,goodand faithfulslave.You were faithfulwith a few things,I will put you in chargeof many things;enterinto the joyof your master.'
The wickedis thrustdownby his wrongdoing,But the righteoushasa refugewhen he dies.
"IfanyoneservesMe, he must followMe; and whereI am,thereMy servantwill be also;ifanyoneservesMe, the Fatherwill honorhim.
