Text: “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)
Jonathan Edwards argues that when true believers die, their souls immediately go to be with Christ in heaven. They do not wait in an intermediate place until the resurrection. Death brings them directly into the presence of their Savior.
This glorious hope gave the Apostle Paul courage to endure suffering, persecution, and even death. Because Paul knew what awaited him, he could say that he preferred to leave this life and be with Christ.
When Christians die, their souls are received into the very heaven where Christ now dwells.
Jesus Christ remains both God and man forever. His glorified human body is in heaven at the Father's right hand. Therefore, heaven is not merely a spiritual state but a real place where Christ is.
The saints do not enter some temporary resting place separated from heaven. Scripture shows that they go directly to Christ's presence. Edwards points to:
The Apostle Paul, who desired "to depart and be with Christ."
Stephen, who prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
The repentant thief, to whom Jesus said, "Today you shall be with Me in paradise."
Thus, heaven is the true home of God's people.
While on earth, Christians know Christ by faith.
They love Him though they have not seen Him. Their understanding is partial, like looking through a dim mirror.
But after death, everything changes.
The redeemed see Christ directly and clearly. They behold:
His divine glory.
His infinite wisdom and holiness.
His love shown in redemption.
The beauty of His glorified human nature.
Every barrier to spiritual sight is removed. The believer's knowledge becomes fuller, clearer, and sweeter than anything experienced in this life.
What is now seen faintly by faith will then be seen openly in glory.
Sanctification begins in this life, but it is completed in heaven.
While Christians live on earth, sin still remains within them. Their love for Christ is imperfect, and many hindrances weaken their fellowship with Him.
At death:
Sin is completely removed.
Every spiritual defect disappears.
The believer is perfectly holy.
The soul is fully united to Christ.
Seeing Christ in His glory transforms the saint completely. As darkness vanishes before the midday sun, all remaining corruption vanishes before the perfect vision of Christ.
In heaven, believers are not merely spectators. They enjoy personal communion with Christ.
The relationship between Christ and His people reaches its fullest expression.
Scripture describes believers as:
Friends of Christ.
Brothers and sisters of Christ.
The bride of Christ.
In heaven they experience the fullness of His love without interruption. Christ openly displays the affection He has had for His people from eternity.
The saints respond with perfect love, delight, and worship.
They live forever in the ocean of divine love.
The saints do not merely observe Christ's happiness—they participate in it.
Because they are united to Him, they share in His inheritance.
Christ delights infinitely in the Father's love.
Through union with Christ, believers are brought into that same enjoyment. They enter into "the joy of their Lord."
The love the Father has for His Son becomes the atmosphere in which the redeemed live forever.
Christ reigns over all creation.
Believers, as His joint heirs, reign with Him.
All things belong to Christ, and because believers belong to Christ, all things are theirs as well.
The saints share in:
Christ's kingdom.
Christ's victory.
Christ's triumph over evil.
Christ's glory.
The saints in heaven remain deeply interested in Christ's work on earth.
They rejoice whenever sinners are saved.
They delight in the spread of the gospel.
They celebrate every victory of Christ over Satan and every advance of God's kingdom.
From heaven they see God's plan unfolding far more clearly than believers on earth ever can.
Heaven is not a place of inactivity.
The redeemed continually worship and glorify God.
Christ Himself leads the praises of heaven.
The saints join Him in joyful and unending worship.
Their happiness consists not only in receiving blessings but also in actively praising the God who redeemed them.
The worship of heaven is full, pure, joyful, and everlasting.
After describing the glory awaiting believers, Edwards turns to exhortation.
Every person must soon leave this world.
Our bodies are fragile and temporary. Death is certain.
Therefore, the great question is:
Will we be present with Christ when we leave this body?
Nothing on earth compares to the privilege of dwelling with Christ in heaven:
Seeing His glory.
Enjoying His love.
Sharing His joy.
Reigning with Him.
Worshiping Him forever.
This eternal blessing is worth seeking above everything else.
Edwards preached this sermon at the funeral of a godly minister (widely understood to be David Brainerd).
He points to the man's holy life, deep conversion, devotion to Christ, self-denial, and peaceful confidence in death as evidence of the reality of true religion.
His closing challenge is simple:
Let the example of faithful believers remind us that this world is not our home. Let us pursue genuine holiness, wholehearted devotion to Christ, and a life that prepares us for eternity. Then, when death comes, we too may leave the body and be forever present with the Lord.
For the Christian, death is not the end but the entrance into a far greater life. The moment believers leave their earthly bodies, they enter the presence of Christ, behold His glory, are made perfectly holy, share in His joy and kingdom, and worship Him forever.